A Digimon Frontier Fanfic

By Sakura Martinez (a.k.a Haru Glory)

[A/N:

Well, after a long absence due to pilling amounts of school work, not to mention two baby theses, I finally had the time to write this chapter. I really apologize for the amount of delay, which I hope is now unimportant to you all as here is another chapter that I wish you would enjoy.

The Rabbit on the Moon

The Plight of Izumi and Takuya

Takuya groaned, his whole body sore from all the punishment that he has been given. He could no longer tell how many days he had been locked up in the cold, wet and dark four-cornered room. He could no longer remember, try as he may, the feeling of being able to sleep on a soft bed; the feeling of eating decent meals; nor the feeling of not having his wrists as well as his ankles bound by chains, chains that his fire could not melt and destroy no matter how much he tried or how much energy he placed on them.

He could not understand why his father and his minions were keeping him alive. He was of no value to them. They already know that they cannot break him in their conventional means, which was torture, and they already know a way to extract this so-called 'Ancient Power' within him for their own personal use.

Yes. That was right. He could remember very well that time when the King, whom he had never had an audience with, suddenly barged into the torture chamber where he had spent most of his days in being whipped, punched, kicked and smirked at by different kinds of people on a daily basis.

Flashback.

The cold, iron doors swung open, and several men in white armor with the Kingdom of Felis's crest engraved on their breastplate entered. All of them carrying long spears, as if anyone could possibly attack them in that room.

The young bearer of the Ancient Power of Fire looked up, his eyes were already blurry with tears that are being held back. He didn't want to give these people the satisfaction that they want and crave from him. He was hoping that these guards would not stay long and that his daily dosage of torture would come to an end with him being thrown back to his cell. However, the next person who entered the darkly lit room with his father was someone he did not expect…the King himself, King Seraphim.

"So," said the King, "you're that infamous son of my most trusted Commander."

Takuya didn't speak. He didn't want to. Instead, he just stared at the pale, unshaven face of the man who spoke.

"I see they have also done their job in torturing you, and I have to say that I am quite impressed with your will, boy." The King went on, "Although, I do not understand why you would go to all the trouble of keeping your mouth shut rather than giving us the information that we asked for. Who are you fighting for? Those so-called friends of yours, who, up until now, have done nothing to save you?"

Takuya still said nothing. He just glared, and just for that, he was given another round of beating. When that was finished, the King went on.

"I really don't see why your son would not see reason, Hiroaki." Droned the King. "You should have taught him to submit himself to his King."

"I deeply apologize for that, my Lord." Commander Kanbara said as he bowed his head. "It was his mother's, Yuriko's, belief that seemed to have sunk in to him. She had always had her own sense of belief that had always contradicted with ours."

"Then, it is a good thing that she is no longer with us then." The King said in a boorish voice.

Takuya, not liking the fact that his beloved mother was being bad mouthed, did not hesitate to speak up in her defense and in his as well.

"How dare you speak about my mother like that!" Takuya raised his voice. "You can do to me whatever you want, but don't you dare talk about her like that!"

"Defending someone who is already dead?" The King said. "You have a poor taste in whom you want to protect and stand up for."

"She may be dead, but at least she is worth standing up for rather than a King who cares for nothing but his own twisted plots." Takuya retorted.

The whip cracked as it hit Takuya's back causing another wound.

"You best learn some manners, boy." The torturer said.

"Why? Is there someone here worth respecting?" came the another verbal blow from the young Kanbara followed by another round of beating.

"You should learn to pick the right side, boy." The Kind said. "Follow your father's footprints, join us."

"I would rather die than become some dog in a leash." Takuya stated trying to make it sound loud and clear as he could.

"Then you will die." King Seraphim assured him, and just before he went out of the torture chamber, he added. "And just so you know, Takuya, that was the last chance that I have decided to give you. We no longer require you alive, nor the other Chosen Ones, after all, we already found a means to extract your 'power'."

Takuya's eyes widen in surprise at those words as the King went on. "So in the end, you ended up not making any difference. We will still get what we want, and you will end up dead with nothing."

End of Flashback

Takuya cursed under his breath. He wanted to do something, anything. But, what was there to do? He was the only one who knows that the King and his followers had already devised something that could, as the Kind had said 'extract' the Ancient Powers. Even if he wanted to send some form of message to the other Chosen Ones: Izumi and Tomoki, there was no way to do that without that message being intercepted.

"Damn it!" He said as he punched the dirty pavement. "If it weren't for these chains that hinders the full use of my power, I would have escaped from this place already."

He sighed.

There was no use. He had heard the guards speaking of his execution, which according to them, was quickly approaching. He could guess that it would happen any time soon. His time was running short.

Meanwhile, back at the Orimoto Mansion…

"It seems that, although we already have sufficient man power for this mission, it would most likely not happen." Came the bad news that they received from Kouichi's grandfather, who had just arrived via carriage after having a meeting with the rest of the Generals and the Royal Family.

"What do you mean, grandfather?" Kouichi asked.

General Kimura handed to them a piece of parchment which was signed by the King and his advisers, and in this parchment they read that Takuya's execution would not be done in a public manner, but rather in a 'secured environment'.

"What is this?" Junpei said agitated. "We've already made so much plans for this mission and this happens. What a waste of time for all that training."

"Could they really do something like this, father?" Izumi asked, her query directed to Commander Orimoto.

"I'm afraid so." The Commander replied. "He is after all, convicted as a traitor and the King knows of his ability, as you say, to conjure flames. Even if we were to intervene in this 'secured environment' thing, it would still prove futile."

"Then what are we going to do?" Tomoki asked. "We can't just leave him to die like that, he has done nothing wrong – in a sense."

"But the fact is, there is nothing we can't do, Tomoki." Spoke another member from the same tribe as Tomoki, his older brother, Yutaka.

"Don't say that, big brother!" Tomoki said.

"Let's face it, Tomoki." Kouji said siding with the older Himi. "Yutaka is right. Unless we break him out of his prison cell, then we might as well bid Takuya goodbye."

Silence filled the room.

Although Kouji, Junpei and Yutaka had already thrown in the towel, the others, however, were still trying their hardest to conjure another plan to rescue their friend.

"Kouichi, I know how you feel." The General spoke. "You and Takuya had been like brothers ever since you two met at the Academy, but I think it is time to let it go."

"How can you say that, Grandfather?" Kouichi asked. "Takuya's not just like a brother, or a friend to me, but he is also one of the Chosen Ones."

"He may be one of them, but if you think of it this way, Kouichi, if Takuya dies, they would not be able to use him and his power for creating that 'key' or whatever it is they are planning to do." Kouji pointed out.

"Even so, Kouji," Izumi began to say. "Sir Takuya is first and foremost an innocent man being held in captivity for rescuing both myself and Tomoki."

"It was his decision." Commander Orimoto stated. "No one forced him to do what he did, and we did not even see this coming. Let us just hope and pray that he doesn't suffer much more than he already had before he dies."

Izumi was dumbfounded. She could not believe what she was hearing, and she could not take it any longer. And so, she stormed out of the meeting room where they were all gathered and quickly marched towards her room, locking up the door in the process. Leaving the others with their heads bowed and in silence.

Izumi slumped on her bed. She didn't want to hear anymore of how they are just going to let this happen. It was not just because she had already developed some feelings for the man who is about to be executed, but also because this man was also the same man who didn't think twice of coming to her rescue, no matter if he was just thinking of his mission or not.

"There has to be another way, there just has to be…" Were the thoughts that rang in her head. "If only I can use whatever power they say I have as a Chosen One, then maybe I can rescue him myself."

She blinked at that thought and wondered why she could not do just that. After all, all she needs to do is be able to call upon this 'power', learn to control it and then use it to her advantage. But then it dawned to her, such a thing would take days, or even weeks, or even months and years of practice – a time that neither she nor Takuya has.

She could not help but hate herself for that. She wasn't strong enough when the time was needed, none of them were.

She could not help but wonder what Takuya would do if he was in her shoe and one of their friends were the one who was going to be executed. She could only guess that he would probably act before he think, much like how she guessed he did while they were together on that mission.

And as much as she did not wish to accept it, the truth began to sink in that there was really nothing more that they can do. And as it did, she could not help but shed tears for him before drifting off into an uneasy sleep.

She was standing in the middle of a clearing overlooking the mountainous region of a familiar place. Somehow, she suddenly knew where it was…

"Harim…" she muttered as she gazed over at the beautiful scenery that was before her.

She was in awe, but at the same time confused. Why does this place seem new yet at the same time familiar to her? She could not think of any answers to that. All she knew was that she felt right at home…

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Came a voice that she did not expect to hear.

"Takuya." She said as she whirled around only to find that she was mistaken. For it was not "Takuya" who stood before her, but rather that same boy who had been haunting her dreams for so long as she could remember. Upon seeing that it was the boy, Izumi quickly muttered an apology. "I'm sorry, I thought you were somebody else."

The "boy" smiled.

"You mean, this "Takuya" person?" He asked, looking directly at Izumi as she nodded, which made the boy's smile widen.

"Tell me, what is this place? I have a feeling that I had been here before. I somehow know what it is called but I don't understand why since Takuya only mentioned of this place once." Izumi queried.

"You don't need anyone to tell you more about this place nor to mention this place to you. Izumi." The boy said.

"What do you…?" Izumi was about to ask, when a sudden force of wind blew causing Izumi to shield and close her eyes. When she opened them, she found herself

standing at the same place where her dreams always takes her to, and before her, was the scene that always played itself back.

"What's going on?" She asked, hoping that the boy beside her would answer only to find that he was no longer there. She was about to give up asking questions when an unfamiliar voice answered her question.

"This is the place where it all began," said the unknown female voice. "Well, for both of you, that is."

Izumi, surprised to hear someone talk as she watched the scene she had come to memorize play itself, wheeled around hoping to see someone standing behind her. But there was no one there.

"You won't see me here, you know." The voice said as if reading Izumi's mind. "This place, this memory is something that is personal to you and for that you seemed to have place a barrier in it without knowing it."

"What are you talking about? Who are you?"

"That's not important…for now." Answered the voice. "I'm just doing 'him' a favor, and you as well...Even if it would already seem to late to do so."

"Who are you talking about?" Izumi asked, becoming more confused in the process.

"You and that rash boy, of course." Said the voice as if it was that obvious to the young Orimoto.

"You know who that boy is?" she asked.

A laugh was the first reply followed by "Of course."

"Then who is he?" Izumi asked. She had wondered on the boy's identity for so long as she had had that dream shown to her.

"You still hadn't figured that out? You two are really, pretty much the same. It took him ages to remember as well." The voice said then added. "Well, no point in dilly dallying then."

Another gust of wind blew, and when Izumi looked up it was the same scene only now, instead of the young girl, which was her, and the young boy who were talking it was her in her current 17-year-old body and when she looked over at who she was supposedly talking to, she was surprised to see Takuya.

"Takuya?" She gasped. "How is that even possible? Is this even real?"

"Well, your reaction is to be expected. Yes, this scene, it isn't just your dream, it's a fragment of your memory in the past." The voice explained. "It's a very long story as to how you come to forget, but to summarize it, it's because both your father and his decided it to be for the best. But, unlike you who retained the memory of this time up to that promise, Takuya seemed to have forgotten everything including the promise he made to you. Although, he just recently remembered the part that you two are childhood friends."

"You've got to be kidding me," Izumi said as it all started to sink in. "This can't be real, I mean, this is just a dream. It's not that I don't like him to be Takuya, it's just that…this is a dream!"

"Well, this was the only way to talk to you without you looking like someone with a mental problem." The voice went on. "This is also the only way he can talk with you, something that he accidentally discovered today."

"He?"

As if on cue, another breeze blew changing the scenery once again.

When Izumi opened her eyes for the third time, she found herself standing at a darkened place. The voice was gone. And there standing in front of her was Takuya himself.

"It's been a while, Lady Izumi."

"Takuya?" She said. "Is this even real?"

"I found it hard to believe at first as well, but it is…It is real, all of this." Takuya replied, a sad smile plastered on his face. "I hope you are doing well, my lady."

"Cut the formalities, Takuya." Izumi said, her eyes averting his gaze. "I already know…"

Takuya could not help but laugh. "It's unbelievable, isn't it? How fate is able to play us both like that…who would have guessed it."

"How can you laugh like that?" Izumi asked. "You're going to be executed!"

"That's something I was hoping would not come soon, but…" Takuya was about to say, but quickly changed the topic remembering what it was he really needed to say. "Izumi, I won't be able to tell this to anyone any more, but seeing as your father is against mine, I would have to trust you and your father to do something about this. I don't want my death to end in vain."

"What are you talking about?"

"The King and his minions, they already found a way to extract the Ancient Powers from their hosts." Takuya replied. "I don't know how they came to that knowledge, but, whether I do what they say or not, I will end up dead anyway and my power, the Power of Fire, would end up in their hands. You can't stop that from happening, but you can save the others who are like us."

"Like…us?"

"Well, seeing as how you were also able to connect to this world where dreams and reality exist, it only means that you are like me, a bearer of the Ancient Power. Well, it's not like I need to explain it to you, since I am guessing you already know that."

Silence was what came after that. A silence which was only just momentary.

"This is so frustrating, Takuya." Izumi suddenly said as she looked up to him. "I finally found out that you were the same boy I had been dreaming about for a while now, but…I don't know what to do, I just can't leave you to die like that."

Takuya walked forward and touched her face, wiping away the tears that flowed down on her cheeks.

"I know." Takuya said. "But I don't want you to do anything stupid just to come to my rescue, Izumi. You can't bust me out of this place, if you try you will just end up in deep trouble as well as everyone else, including your father."

"But, it's my fault why you are in such a predicament." Izumi sobbed. "If it wasn't for me…you'd still be free. I can't help but wish that we never met, because then, maybe, you won't be in so much trouble as you are now."

Takuya caressed her face as he spoke. "I don't regret ever meeting you, and I never will. No matter what happens, Izumi…no matter where this leads, I will always, always protect you."

Just then, the world began to shake.

"What's going on?" Izumi asked.

"Someone must be waking either one of us up." Takuya said then added. "Remember, remember to tell them that the King already has a way to extract the Ancient Powers. Find a way to stop him, Izumi."

"I will, Takuya." Izumi said. "But you have to promise me that you will find a way to escape from there, you just can't die."

Takuya nodded. And just before he vanished, he spoke the three words that Izumi never had thought to hear.

"I love you."

In the real world, as Izumi lay asleep, a tear fell down as she muttered the same three words despite knowing that he would not be able to hear her.

To be Continue…

[A/N:

That certainly took a lot of effort to make, and a lot of pages as well. Anyway, I hope you guys liked it. I would really appreciate it if you would all take some time to write me a review of this story since I want to know if you guys are still enjoying yourselves reading this.

Well, that's about all for today. I still have a documentation for out theses to finish. So until the next update, Take Care!