Title: Always Follow the Rabbit

Author: Mrpointyhorns aka Blemery

Rating: R

Status: In Progress

Part: 3

Pairings: Taichi/Koushiro, Augmon, Tentomon, Kei, Hikari/Kota (Sorta), Cherubmon

Warnings: Slash

Spoilers: Season 1 and 2, plus some of the movies (nothing blatantly but there)

Summary: Taichi's has started to settle in his life, and while that can be quite nice, he and Koushiro have never been better, it can also be a bit disappointing, especially his dead-end job. The only thing interesting that ever happens is when he has to babysit his nephew. Until Koushiro detects a disturbance that is about to give Taichi the adventure he craves.

Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by someone else. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

A/N: Just so you know, no bashing is intended! I may or may not have referenced a few other pop culture references in this one! But why not the story was just begging for it.

Hikari found it difficult to unlock the door with her part friend part date, Kota, distracting her. It had started at the bar with flirting, and light kissing. Then, as they made their way back to the apartment, cutting across the park, they paused to kiss harder, longer. They started touching, just hair first grabbing fistfuls as they kissed heatedly. Then, there was touching, rubbing, arms, legs, sides. Anything they could touch, as they stumbled into the street still kissing. They made it into the elevator, but Hikari wasn't really sure how. Then, they stayed inside for ten minutes rutting against each other. Hikari barely noticed when the door opened and a girl shuffled and pushed the button for her floor. The girl stared at the ground looking distinctly uncomfortable. So, Hikari pulled away just enough to tap the button to her floor. She tilted her head back letting Kota kiss at her neck. She waited, barely patiently for their floor.

Then, she managed to pull away enough to get them down the hallway. She had pulled out her keys, but while she had been fumbling in her purse, Kota started touching her again. She fumbled with the door as his fingers slid under the elastic of her panties, and touched her. She shuttered. He started to kiss her again. She kissed back pressing into the door. She pushed up against the finger for a moment trying to get close to climax. When she realized it was not going to be enough, she pulled away once again. "Hold on." Hikari turned back to the door and opened it quickly. She stumbled over the threshold as she kicked off her shoes. Kota followed her inside and reached down to pull her shirt up over her head and tossing it down. They stumble through the hallway in the dark removing the rest of their clothes and distracting them as careless as her shirt.

"Not the bedroom!" Hikari steered him away. She led him over to the couch. She slipped on to it spreading her legs for him and trying to look coy, in the dark.

"Oh awesome." The guy replied moaning. He slipped between her legs and pressed her into the couch.

She liked guys that were bigger than she was. She liked it when they could envelope her. She liked to pretend it was because it made her feel safe and protected, but she knew that while she liked those things. She also liked the feeling of vulnerability. She liked knowing that she had no control. So when he moved her around so that she was on her elbows with one knee on the couch and one foot on the ground. She groaned. And when he slapped her ass as he drove into her, she let out a squeal and then moaned. She begged him for more.

He turned her around and picked up her leg and wrapped it around his waist. She lifted the other around his other hip locking her ankles together around him. Then he was completely in charge. He used his strength and power to bring her to climax. The first one of that night.

The second one came when he put her back on the couch and spread her wide open. He rubbed her clit as he entered her again. He continued to pound away at her. She had her head back against the couch with her eyes closed tight. She had her mouth open gasping soft gasps until she came just as he shot his load into her.

"For a kid that was running around all day, he couldn't even wait to get home to fall asleep?" Augmon asked as he, Koushiro and Taichi climbed the stairs to the apartment. Tentomon hovered overhead and Taichi carried Kei. They had spent most of the day out at the pier. They played games for prizes and rode on the Ferris wheel.

Taichi had convince Koushiro to come out with them and relaxed. They had yet to find any information about what happened. Taichi was growing less concerned by the day. He thought if something bad was happening then Koushiro's tests would have shown that already. Koushiro had said that the brush with the possible fourth world could have very little effect. If that was the case then, Koushiro research on the fourth world would be minimal and he would only be able to concluded if it existed and nothing else. So Taichi was able to convince him to come out and to work on that fourth world when Taichi didn't have the day off.

It had been fun for all of them everyone was a little exhausted. Taichi couldn't wait to put Kei down and crawl into bed with Koushiro. Tomorrow was Monday and Taichi felt the twinge of dread that always showed up on Sunday nights.

"That's just how little kids are Augmon. They have so much energy they play really hard and fast, but that makes them tired. They don't realize they're tired usually and they keep going, but then since he had to sit on the train he was forced to relax and so he fell asleep," Taichi explained in a hushed voice.

"The movement of the train also helped," Koushiro replied. He was carrying their leftovers, a large stuffed dog, and a balloon.

"Oh kind of like the baby digimon." Tentomon took the keys from Koushiro to help him unlock the apartment door. He could see well in the dark so he was able to get the light in the hallway on for the humans who couldn't. "Uh…whose shoes are these?"

"Looks like Kari's home." Koushiro glanced at the shoes. "I'm going to check my computer."

"Alright. I'll just put him down." Taichi said seeing that Hikari had a guest and all their clothes were on the floor he brought Kei into his and Koushiro's bedroom. Even though, he had been looking forward to spending the night with Koushiro he didn't know what he would find in their guestroom. He would rather Kei sleep in their room than find out.

On his way to their computer room, Koushiro noticed the trail of clothes led to the living room and not to the guestroom. He paused looking inside the room. The lights from the city spilled into the room and Koushiro could make out a mass on the couch. He sighed although no one heard. He went over to the couch to hopefully get Hikari and her date to move into the other room. He couldn't much see Hikari, but there was some brown hair and a light colored arm that he could make out, but the majority of the mass on the couch was the date. Koushiro reached down and shook the date's shoulder. "Hey guys, let's get you up and into the bedroom," he said evenly. It frustrated him to see Hikari like this, but Taichi always took it so much harder. Koushiro knew that he had to be the strong one for him.

The date instead of waking slow and groggily or drunk and happily, jolted up after only a moment and swung wildly. Koushiro was not prepared for this and was hit in the jaw, then the eye, and finally in the stomach. Koushiro stumbled back away from the date and held his arms up to protect himself. He did not want to fight back because he knew the guy was drunk so he might overreact even more. Plus, Koushiro's head was already spinning from being hit before. He decided that putting distance between them was the safest option.

Tentomon quickly flew in from behind Koushiro. He stopped the man from doing anything else by wrapping his arms and legs around the date. Obviously, not feeling like he should use an attack on a human.

"Ahh!" The guy started screaming and swearing loudly clawing at Tentomon's hard shell and trying to get him off. Hikari woke up from that and Taichi was in the room instantly.

Koushiro lowered his hands and watched Tentomon passively not trying to get him off. Tentomon was meant to protect him and Koushiro was not going to stop him.

Hikari blinked up at the scene. "What?"

Taichi hurried over touching Koushiro's shoulder and putting his other hand on his arm. "Are you alright?" Koushiro nodded although he was still a bit shakened. Taichi turned on the dated.

"Alright, it's time for you to go." Taichi grabbed the guy by the collar. Tentomon pulled away from the guy flying back a little, but keeping close to Taichi.

The man stared at Tentomon with wide eyes and complete fright. "What the hell is that?"

"Don't worry about it. It's time for you to go," Taichi said. He let go of the guy's collar. He started to usher him to the front door. Augmon and Tentomon followed Taichi's progress.

"Ok, ok just keep that thing away from me. Hikari let's get out of here," The man said putting distance between him and the digimon. Taichi looked at Tentomon and Augmon who both backed off slightly. Taichi felt concerned about this. What had happened to make the digimon so cautious with this guy?

"Hikari's fine. You on the other hand need to leave." Taichi opened the front door for him and herded him out towards the stairs. Augmon and Tentomon stayed waiting at the door watching the whole time.

The man looked worried for a moment about Hikari, but when he looked around Taichi at the door he saw the digimon. His eyes widened in fear again and he quickly jumped back. "Right, I'm out of here." Then he ran down the stairs faster than Taichi thought was possible with the guy. Taichi heard him trip on the landing followed with some swearing, and then he heard more running.

He waited until he couldn't hear any more footfalls before turning back to the digimon. "Tentomon, will you follow him and make sure he actually leaves the building. I'll leave the patio door unlocked for you."

"Got it." Tentomon flew down after the date staying in the shadows this time.

Taichi didn't say anything to Augmon as he went inside making sure to lock the apartment door. Then, he detoured into his room to unlock the patio door for Tentomon. He went back into the living room to find out what happened. Hikari stumbled passed him, wrapped up in the throw-blanket that went over the back of the couch, into the bathroom.

Augmon flinched when she shrieked about the toilet. "It's okay, Hikari. You can use Tai's bathroom." Augmon ran after her.

Taichi shook his head and walked over to Koushiro. Koushiro had not moved at all. He still had an arm around his stomach and he was gently touching one of his eyes. Taichi felt even more scared now than before. He put his arms around Koushiro, pulling him into his arms and holding him tight. Koushiro turned into his arms burrowing his face into Taichi's neck. He let out a little choked sobbing sound.

"Hey, hush. He's gone. It's okay." Taichi felt his gut drop when he felt Koushiro clutch the back of his shirt. He felt Koushiro shaking and shuttering. "Baby what happened."

"I didn't do anything." Koushiro his voice was shaky and quiet. "This is our home. I want to feel safe. I couldn't even hit back. He was so drunk." He held tight on to Taichi.

Taichi almost pulled away so that he could look Koushiro in the eye. He couldn't believe what he had heard. Taichi had only heard the guy screaming because of Tentomon. He didn't know that he had hit Koushiro, but that explained Tentomon's reaction. It made Taichi's blood boil a little. That guy was long gone, but Hikari was not. She was the one that brought him here and Taichi was going to talk to her. He could deal with all the other things she was doing, but he wouldn't stand for this. If Hikari wanted to get drunk and mess around she could do it at her own apartment.

When Taichi and Koushiro had first started to date it had not always been easy. So many friends, strangers and acquaintances had shared their hatred for them. Taichi always fought against it and it was not long before people learned to stop. Koushiro on the other hand, just let it happened. He preferred to look the other way instead of fighting it. So the hatred and anger continued.

Taichi held on to him trying to calm Koushiro down. It wasn't fair that all the hatred for them was always directed at Koushiro never at Taichi. Koushiro was always one to just let it happen. Deciding that he was the better person by not fighting, after all he was smarter than that, right? Yet it affected Koushiro putting a fear in him. Their home had always been a safe haven for him. Even though, this situation wasn't necessarily about hatred it still unnerved Koushiro. He didn't want to be afraid in his own home.

"Tai! Tai!" Hikari screamed in a tone that had both Taichi and Koushiro running. Kei was up too and Augmon was already in their bathroom, the one connected to the master bedroom. The bathroom was dark except for the nightlight and the light from the street that spilled in from the bedroom.

"What is it?" Taichi asked.

Koushiro was already looking at what was across from Hikari. Cherubimon stared at them through the mirror. It was the dark version of the Cherubimon. "What is he doing there?" Hikari asked.

"Mommy?" Kei scooted past Augmon and his uncles to his Mom. Hikari picked him up without looking away from the Cherubimon.

Koushiro reached forward to touch the glass. "It is unusual to have a reflection in the dark."

"That's not a reflection." Taichi scooted closer to his little sister who was in the main part of the bathroom.

Koushiro nodded. "That's a good point. People use to think that mirrors were a window into other dimension. I wonder if…" He touched the solid glass and nothing unusual happened except Cherubimon tilted his head. Koushiro tapped on the glass a few times. The glass started to ripple a little at his touch at least visibly it rippled Koushiro didn't feel the ripple. Like it was only happening on the other side of the glass.

"Be careful." Taichi winced as Koushiro continued. He was the one with courage, but that didn't mean that he necessarily liked it when other people put themselves in danger.

"I need to check my computer." Koushiro backed up from the mirror towards the door, but not wanting to take his eyes off of the mirror.

Cherubimon opened his mouth large and wide. Taichi grabbed Hikari and Koushiro and ducked below the sink just in case something dangerous came out of it. They kept an eye on what they could see of Cherubimon. Augmon stood near them looking at Taichi for instruction. Cherubimon's voice that rang in the room or in their heads.

The portal will open in 5 days.

"The portal will open?" Taichi spoke out loud.

"What does that mean?" Hikari looked between her brother and Koushiro.

"I have to get my computer." Koushiro jumped up and ran out of the room.

Taichi stayed with his sister and nephew on the floor of the bathroom. He stared at Cherubmon, he knew he would have to be attentive in case anything happened while Koushiro was gone.

"Tai aren't you going to do something?" Hikari begged. Taichi glanced at her from the corner of his eye, but didn't fully take his gaze off of Cherubmon. "What are you waiting for?"

Taichi didn't know how to explain to her that even though he hadn't lost any of his courage he was more reluctant to place himself or his family in danger by doing so. He needed more reassurance, more grounding. That's what Koushiro did for him. He had answers. He let Tai know when it was safe to be brave. Since he was unable to explain that to her he decided he would have to do something. He straightened up so that he was more level with Cherubmon. He spoke the first thing that came to his mind. "Portal? What do you mean?"

Cherubmon became still for a moment. Then slowly with great difficulty, Cherubmon turned his head to look down on Taichi. He could probably see Hikari and Kei on the floor behind him. Cherubmon's mouth began to open wide and a bright glow began to form, but before the attack could be released the mirror went dark, unable to reflect anything in the dark room.

Taichi, Hikari and Kei stayed where they were on the floor until Koushiro came running back in. "Where'd he go?"

"He was going to say more, but then he disappeared," Hikari explained.

"A faulty connection, interesting." Koushiro sat down on the floor next to them and opened his laptop.

Taichi and Hikari look at Koushiro as he started working. After a few minutes, of his typing Hikari turned to her brother. "I'm putting Kei to bed." Taichi nodded silently. Kei was still in her arms and his head was on her shoulder. He had wide eyes and they looked at the mirror without blinking. Hikari stood up with Kei in her arms. When she reached the door, she paused and said, "Thanks Tai."

Taichi nodded he stood up after her and turned on the light in the bathroom since. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do right now. Koushiro normally let him do something, but that would mean Koushiro would have to stop what he was doing to explain it to Tai. He knew that might be more burdensome than help. He went back out into the apartment to make sure that the front door was locked. Then, he went into the kitchen to see if there were any dishes or anything to do. There wasn't of course, Koushiro didn't let dishes sit. But, Taichi ran a towel over the counters to make sure they were clean. Then he went into the living room. The clothes that had been in there and the hallway were gone and the throw, Taichi suspected was still with Hikari. He looked at the cushions on the couch before deciding that he better wash them. He unzipped the sleeves of the couch and put them in the wash. After that he straightened the pillows he went to check on Hikari and Kei.

He always checked on Kei when he stayed over, but when Hikari was staying over as well, he usually let them be. However, because of Cherubmon he was felt extra protective. Since, he wasn't sure how he could help Koushiro he felt like at least he could be helpful to his sister and nephew.

When he reached the door it was cracked open slightly and Hikari was lying on the bed with Kei. She was rubbing his forehead and whispering to him. "Everything is fine. You don't need to be afraid. Everyone here will take care of you." Even though, when Tai looked closely, he though Kei might be fast asleep. His eyes were completely closed and he didn't seem to be moving. If Kei wasn't asleep he was nearly there.

Tai stayed at the door for only a moment, but turned around instead of offering his help. In the end, Taichi always knew that it didn't matter how many times Kei stayed with him; Hikari would always be his mom. He couldn't replace her. Even though, she sometimes shucked her responsibilities, Kei would always pick her first. In some ways, that hurt Taichi to know, but in others it made him feel relieved.

After he left his sister and nephew alone, Taichi made sure that the balcony door was closed and locked, even though he didn't think that someone would climb up their building just to get into their apartment, Taichi felt safer knowing it was locked. Then, he got ready for bed.

When he was finished he stood in the bathroom door watching Koushiro as he worked. It always amazed him to see just how smart Koushiro really was, but sometimes like now, he realized how beautiful Koushiro was when he was really in his element. When Koushiro was deeply concentrating and surrounded by knowledge he glowed faintly with energy. "Koushiro," he said after a long moment. Koushiro looked up at him quickly. Even though, sometimes Koushiro would become so entrenched that he was oblivious to everything around him, sometimes he was so fill with knowledge that he was hyper aware of everything around him. So he sometimes would surprise Taichi by responding right away. "Can I help?"

Koushiro looked down at his laptop and rubbed the keys thoughtfully. "Not right now. I'll let you know when, but until then I want you ready and rested." He looked up at Taichi with his deep dark eyes.

Taichi squatted next to him on the floor. "Okay, I'll go to bed, but I don't want you staying up all night either."

At first Koushiro didn't reply to that, but Taichi knew that Koushiro was weighting what Taichi had just said. Taichi knew that Koushiro was aware that if he worked himself into a stupor that he wouldn't be any use to them either and although this new piece to their puzzle was interesting, Koushiro couldn't let it compromise him for the next piece. "If I'm not in bed after a while, come get me alright?" Taichi agreed. Taichi touched Koushiro's cheek and drew him up for a kiss. Koushiro returned the kiss genuinely, but once Taichi pulled away Koushiro was back to work.

Taichi shook his head and smiled to himself. He stood up and went to bed. Tentomon looked at him concern deep in his eyes. "Let him be for a bit, I'll bring him to bed later."

"Thanks Tai," Tentomon looked relieved. He laid down in his usual spot to the left of Koushiro's pillow. Augmon liked to pretend that he liked to sleep to the right of Taichi, but generally he ended up lying across Taichi and Koushiro's calves.

Taichi had trouble sleeping when Koushiro wasn't in the bed, but eventually he was able to with the comfort of the digimon in the room and the soft sound of Koushiro's typing coming from the bathroom. He woke up with his arms around Augmon's head and Augmon's head snuggled into his chest. As a kid Taichi had woken up in that position every day Augmon was around, but it was unusual as an adult. It was still completely dark in the room, except the bathroom light was on. Taichi sat up, worried that Koushiro was sick or something, but then remembered what happened earlier. Either way he had to get up and bring Koushiro back to bed, but at least Koushiro wasn't sick.

Taichi was careful as he crawled off the bed so that he didn't wake the digimon. He was surprised, to see Koushiro hunched over with his head lolled towards his left shoulder, asleep. It hadn't occurred to him that he didn't hear Koushiro typing anymore. Taichi carefully took Koushiro's computer and set it on the dresser in their bedroom. He didn't do anything to turn it off in case it was doing something that couldn't be interrupted.

Taichi returned to the bathroom. He sat down on the tile next to Koushiro. He reached forward and gently brought Koushiro's into his arms letting his head rest on his shoulder. He gently brushed the hair from his eyes. "Kou? Kou?" Taichi spoke softly hoping to lure Koushiro awake just enough to get him to bed, but not enough for Koushiro to remember the trip in the morning. He didn't want Koushiro awake enough to start thinking about the current situation again. He knew Koushiro needed to sleep. He had to recharge. Koushiro admitted that several times in school he had made himself sick with exhaustion because he had been working nonstop. Koushiro bashfully told Taichi that he needed Tai around to let him know when he was working too hard. His actual words were: Taichi you're my light. Knowledge was his passion, but there was a dark side to it that he knew all too well. It took everything away from him, at times even his curiosity! He had said that Tai was the one to guide him back whenever he became lost. He said that sometimes it felt like Taichi guarded his curiosity, protected it, because it always returned when Taichi was around. So Taichi took this duty seriously.

Koushiro responded after a moment and blearily looked at Taichi. "Mm Tai, let me sleep."

"Kay that's what I'm going to do, but we have to get back to bed," Taichi reassured standing carefully and bringing Koushiro with him. Koushiro leaned heavily against him, but he was able to shuffle to the bed with Taichi. He yawned and was nearly out when his head hit his pillow. Yet when Taichi lied down, Koushiro scooted closer to him, until he was the one laying with his head against Taichi's chest. Taichi yawned too and put his arms around Koushiro's head closing his eyes. "Love you."

"Mm," Koushiro mumbled back, but he was already in another deep sleep.

Thanks for reading!