Title: Always Follow the Rabbit
Author: Mrpointyhorns aka Blemery
Rating: R
Status: In Progress
Part: 11
Pairings: Taichi/Koushiro, Augmon, Tentomon, Takeru, Patomon, Wallace, Lopomon, Terrimon, Daisuke, Veemon Ken, Wormmon
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: Thank you for reading everyone. So about not posting for a while, but I did warn you. I have another one coming up and maybe a third. But it will be slow I think. I have the story, it's just hard for me to get down the way I want it. There is one thing I'm not sure of and that's Daisuke and Ken. We'll see with them.
Taichi didn't think he had been asleep, but he was aware now. They weren't in the funnel of water anymore and the screaming stopped. He looked out of the drivers' window at the land. They were not in Jyou's driveway anymore and it didn't look like the digital world. It looked like it was around dusk, or maybe dawn as the sky was grayish-blue. There was no hint of where the sun might peak over the horizon, but it wasn't dark enough to be night. The landscape was sand. All around there was only sand. There were no mountains, no trees and no landmarks of any kind. It looked very bleak.
"Taichi." Koushiro was next to him. He touched his cheek gently and kissed him.
"Where are the guys?" Taichi asked. He tried to glance towards the back of the RV, but Koushiro was mostly in his way.
"They're still out of it," Koushiro explained. He stroked Taichi's jaw with a firm touch. Taichi wondered if Koushiro was taking advantage of the privacy or if it was something else. "I think your journey was easier than theirs."
"Why? What happened? Did someone get hurt?" Taichi asked and squirmed it was nice having Koushiro there, but he was worried about the other guys.
"Don't worry Tai. They're fine, just like you were. They just retreated into their minds because of the screaming," Koushiro explained. He sat down carefully on the arm of Taichi's chair. Taichi put his arms around Koushiro's slim waist to help support him better. "The screaming was so terrible, we all needed to find away to escape it. It was so dark there was nothing to see that could distract us. That's why I found you."
"That screaming. That's what you heard before right?" Taichi asked. He shivered remembering it. He drew Koushiro closer so that Koushiro was almost sitting on him.
"Yes, but this time it was worse. It was horrible." Koushiro's dark eyes held the terror that he felt. "I started to retreat into myself too. I realized I would have to retreat deep into my mind to feel safe, but then I thought of you. I knew if I found you that I could find safety and happiness. Even in the terrible dark and the awful screaming, if I had you then I knew it would be okay."
"Oh, Koushiro." Taichi felt that powerful love that Koushiro still felt for him. He saw it in his eyes and heard it in his voice. Even after Koushiro had been so hurt by Taichi earlier that day his feelings never wavered. He drew strength and courage from Taichi and Taichi felt the same. "So, that's how you were able to stay awake? You found me?"
Koushiro smiled in a teasing way. "Not exactly. Even though I found you quickly, I wasn't able to completely distract myself until I kissed you. I thought if I kissed you that my sense of touch and taste would help combat the negative stimuli that my eyes and ears were receiving."
"Wait? Are you saying we made out when I was more or less unconscious?" Taichi asked.
Koushiro blushed. He gave a half shrug. "You did respond, but it could have been a reflex."
Taichi touched Koushiro cheek and kissed him gently. "It's okay Koushiro. It doesn't bother me and maybe the kiss is the reason why I'm up now and they're still out of it."
"I think that is a good assumption." Koushiro sighed. He shifted pulling away from Taichi. "We need to get some things done."
"Koushiro wait," Taichi grabbed his wrist and pulled him back down. "Just a minute okay. I'm still frightened."
Koushiro nodded. He shifted in the seat, it was awkward even with the seat as far away from the steering wheel as it could get. He tried to straddle Taichi, but the RV's door was too close to the seat. So Kousiro's foot was propped against the door and his knee was pressed awkwardly against his side, but it didn't keep Taichi from holding on to him. He hugged him fiercly. Koushiro rubbed his sides and back trying to soothe him. "You're safe. We both are." He said so softly Taichi barely heard.
"Shiro, I'm sorry about earlier, with Daisuke." Taichi pulled away from Koushiro. "I am not interested in kissing him. I thought you knew that?"
"I do know that." Koushiro touched his forehead to Taichi's. He looked right at Taichi. The look was curious to Taichi because Koushiro's emotions were warring inside his eyes. "I know that you love me, but I was afraid still. I felt like I could lose you to Daisuke. I guess I never really thought about it before Tai, but I think perhaps you could love Daisuke very easily."
"I don't know about that. He's just a kid." Taichi knew he didn't have any feelings for Daisuke, but could he? If he tried? He didn't have any feelings for Koushiro when Koushiro confessed to him. Taichi fell in love with Koushiro. What if things were different, could Daisuke be the one he would fall in love with?
"I think that the ingredients for love between the two of you are there, but I don't think there was ever a spark so it never formed. I think I was afraid that the kiss could be the spark," Koushiro explained.
"But that wouldn't change my feelings for you." Taichi cracked a little. He thought that Koushiro was probably right, he usually was about that sort of thing, but it bothered Taichi. "I would never accept it."
"I don't think you would either, but that wasn't an experiment that I wanted to test," Koushiro whispered. "I gave you time Taichi, and now I'm not giving you up. I can't."
"Well, I'm not going anywhere. I wouldn't tease Daisuke anymore. He doesn't have feelings for me right?"
Koushiro shook his head. "I don't think he has feelings. He needs a spark too."
Taichi sighed that would make the adventure easier. He hugged Koushiro close again. "I love you. I'm not giving you up either." Koushiro sagged against him giving over completely to Taichi.
They sat for a while, but Koushiro had to move eventually. It was too cramped. "We need to do stuff." Koushiro stood up adjusting his clothes. He looked over to the passenger seat Motimon and Koromon peered back at him. "You guys okay?"
"Mostly." Motimon jumped into Koushiro's arms. "It took a lot of energy traveling here."
"That's what I thought." Koushiro returned to the table with his laptop. Taichi stood up and followed him. Koromon trailed after them.
"Are the other Digimon up?" Taichi asked. He looked around. Daisuke and Ken were sitting on the couch that was situated as part of the living space, but also part of the traveling space. They both had their eyes open and blinking, but they were out of it for sure. DemiVeemon and Minomon were sitting next to the boys looking over them. Takeru was slumped against the wall next to the table where the computers were. It was just behind the driver's seat. He didn't look hurt or like he was sleeping either, just like he had sat down some time during the trip. Tokomon was resting his his lap.
"We're okay, Tai." Tokomon spoke up. "Gummymon and Kokomon are watching over Wallace in the bedroom."
Taichi nodded glad that the digimon were up. "Well we should be able to leave the RV," Koushiro said. "There is enough oxygen."
"What are you doing?" Taichi asked sitting down beside him at the table. He tried to see what Koushiro was doing, but it wasn't something he recognized.
"I've been trying to get into the networks. Once I was able to access the network in the digital world it answered a lot of questions. Even, if this isn't a digital world a network could hold a lot of information."
"I know you can do it Kou-kun. What do you want me to do?" Taichi asked.
Koushiro looked up at Taichi. "I want you to go outside and tell me which way we need to go. There really isn't a clue that I can see. Anyway, we followed your instinicts once, and I want to do it again."
Taichi smiled he could do that for sure. He picked up Koromon. "I even brought my spyglass." Taichi headed outside. It wasn't hot like he thought a desert of sand should be, but it wasn't cold like he thought dusk should be. It was so neutral Taichi didn't know if he could say it was weather at all. There was no wind and no clouds. Koromon seemed surprised too. He jumped out of Taichi's arms and explored for himself. Taichi pulled out his spyglass and started to scan the horizon for something. Some desination. Cherubimon brought them here so where was the rabbit! Obviously, he brought them here to solve a problem, but it seemed like the group would have to figure out what the problem was and solve it. Wasn't that always the case?
"I don't see anything Tai!" Koromon said.
Taichi nodded. He didn't see anything either. He stuck his head into the RV. "Can Motimon digivolve? I want Tentomon to give us a bug-eye opinion."
"Motimon?" Koushiro was still working on his computer and Motimon was sitting on his shoulder. Daisuke stirred on the couch and Ken moved his head towards the sound of Taichi's voice, but neither woke up.
"I have it," Motimon jumped off of Koushiro and digivolved to Tentomon. "I don't think I can do more than this though."
"That's what we need anyway." Taichi reassured. He took Tentomon outside with him and Koromon. Tentomon flew up into the sky above them. Taichi went around to the otherside of the RV to check more on that side. Taichi looked but he didn't see anything, but a vast sea of dirt. "It's like we are on the bottom of an ocean."
"Tai?" Daisuke called walking around the RV. "I'm here to help."
"I'm glad you're up how are the others?" Taichi asked.
"Good, we're all up now. DemiVeemon couldn't hold still anymore. Anyway, Ken's helping Izzy and Wallace is sending a message to Earth, if he can. Takeru is trying to make something to feed the digimon," Daisuke explained. He set DemiVeemon onto the ground. DemiVeemon sniffed about digging at the sand.
"This place is depressing." Daisuke had a blank look on his face.
"Yeah there's nothing here." Taichi agreed. He looked up to the sky. Tentomon was still hovering high and looking around. "I don't think he sees anything either."
Taichi continued walking around the RV using his spyglass to look out into the distance. Daisuke followed him for a little while, but then he made his way to the front of the RV. Taichi couldn't see anything in any direction he looked. The land was so flat Taichi could see far even though it was not very bright out. Tentomon returned to him when he circled the RV. "I didn't see anything Tai, but I can't fly up as high as I do on either of our worlds."
"Why do you think that is?" Taichi asked. Was that part of the problem?
"I think the atmosphere here isn't very thick. If I went higher it would be too cold for my wings to work," Tentomon explained. "I'm sorry I couldn't get any higher for you."
Taichi rubbed Tentomon's head sympathizing with the beetle. "You did a good job buddy."
"Hey Tai, I have an idea." Daisuke walked over to him. He looked a little unsure. He had been the honoary leader for some time, but with Taichi around he was pushed back to a follower position. He had even been captain of his soccer team, so it was different for him to be in this position.
"What is it Dai?" Taichi asked curious to what Daisuke thought. Daisuke instincts could be as useful as Taichi's right about now.
"We should go straight ahead." Daisuke pointed towards the front of the RV. "Cherubimon didn't seem to leave us with any clues, but I think that one is the most obvious. Our RV didn't crash down, it was set down up right. There could be a reason."
Taichi thought about that as he led Daisuke and the digimon into the RV. From what he could tell there was no way of knowing which direction would bring them to their first clue. So going forward was as good as any. Plus, Daisuke had a point the RV could have been destroyed in the journey, but it wasn't it was fine. Did Cherubimon have that much control over their journey? If he did why did he send them here, with no clue on where to go? If he didn't then did it matter which way they went. Eventually they would figure out what was needed of them. Why they were here.
Taichi voiced his agreement and then suggested they go inside and discuss it with everyone. Daisuke had a look of relief and pride. It was a look that Taichi remembered him wearing when they were kids. Daisuke had wanted to impress Tai, then but it didn't seem like that had changed very much now. Though, as it stood Daisuke had been living Tai's dream so for him to feel that way was a little funny. Did Daisuke still feel like he needed to earn Taichi's respect? Or were the actions just something that Daisuke couldn't shake?
"What did you find?" Takeru gave Tentomon, DemiVeemon and Koromon some of the riceballs that he had saved from the other digimon. Patamon sat on his head.
"Nothing." Taichi replied. "There is nothing, but sand for miles. I couldn't even see any mountains or hills."
"Are we on a desert planet?" Wallace asked curiously.
Ken looked up from his computer. "The deserts on Earth are large and the one in our digital world is even bigger than they are. So, this doesn't mean anything."
"Besides that, Tentomon says that the atomosphere is very small. He couldn't fly as high as he is use to." Taichi explained. "He said that it got cold very fast."
Koushiro looked up curiously. "That's interesting. A smaller atmosphere that still supports life makes me believe that the star that the planet is orbiting must be far away or not as dense as our own. Also it makes me think that the maganetic field might be greater here than on Earth. The maganetic field on Earth protects us from many of the Suns' harmful rays as the atmosphere does. If the atmosphere is smaller I think then a larger maganetic field could protect the life on the planet."
"Does that give you any ideas on which way we should head?" Taichi asked. He understood everything Koushiro said, but he wasn't sure if it held importance. What would a smaller atmosphere mean? What would a larger magnetic field mean?
"It would take me a while to analysis something like that. I think we're better off by just picking a direction." Koushiro looked at the rest of the group. "That's just my opinion. What do you think?"
"I don't have a better answer." Ken glanced out the front window of the RV.
"Great. We'll go with Dai's plan then." Taichi looked at Daisuke pridefully. Daisuke smiled brightly and puffed out his chest. "It was a good idea."
"What was it?" Wallace asked curious. He didn't think of Daisuke as a smart guy.
"Go straight." Taichi looked at Koushiro a moment, but his boyfriend was already working on his computer. He supposed that was an okay on his part. He probably thought Daisuke's instinict was as good as anyone's at this point.
"I actually think that's a good idea." Takeru followed Daisuke and Taichi to the front. He stood at the steps that led to the RV's cab. Taichi turned the RV on for the first time. Alright guys! We're off! Better beware." Cheers came from the digimon and from the humans alike. Taichi started the trek into the desert being careful that he didn't get the tires stuck in the sand.
It did not take long for them to notice how peculiar this new world was. Takeru was the one to point it out. Wallace had joined Ken and Koushiro as they worked to try to figure out more about the world Taichi didn't understand how they knew where to start. So far he didn't have any questions about the world, because there was just too much information for him to process. He couldn't decide what questions needed to be asked. Koushiro had been through this sort of thing before. So maybe he knew what information he needed to gather before he could start formulating hypothesizes. Taichi knew that even though the three were quiet that they were communicating with each other on their computers.
Taichi was driving and Daisuke was helping, or he would have been if their path wasn't a straight shot. Daisuke had turned on the radio just in case, but they only heard static. He kept his eyes out for anything that might look interesting. So far his enthusiasm had not waned. They'd been driving for about seven hours already. They had probably gone about 500 miles. It was clear to Taichi early on that the sand wasn't as thick as he thought and they didn't have to worry about getting stuck. They didn't see anything interesting yet.
Takeru had gone up to the top compartment to look out from the windows there without having to stand. He came down to talk to Taichi. "Did you notice that it has gotten lighter outside, but the sun hasn't risen?"
"What does that mean?" Daisuke asked sounding very confused.
"Well, it was darker out when we arrived and it could have been dusk or it could have been dawn. I noticed a while ago that it was getting lighter out. The sky is blue now not purplish-black and you can't see the stars anymore, but it's been about 4 hours and the sun still hasn't risen. I wouldn't think that was too weird, but I really can't tell where the sun might rise. The sky has become bright almost uniformly." Takeru explained his observation.
"I guess it is lighter than when we arrived. I didn't really notice that the sun hadn't risen." Taichi glanced around at the sky even though he was driving he wasn't worried because it wasn't like there was anything he could run into.
Wallace joined them stretching his arms above his head. "What do you think it means, Take? You must have decided something if you came to talk to us about it."
"Well, I thought at first maybe we were near one of the poles. At the poles on Earth it can take months for the sun to rise. That's when I noticed that it was uniformly getting brighter. It seems very aritifical. So I think we must be in a type of digital world. It's like we're in a room with a dimmer." Takeru explained.
"The Digital World has a sun though." Augmon replied.
"That's true, but that doesn't have to be the case. The digital world is a controlled enivornment. It can be manipulated and changed." Ken spoke up from where he was sitting by his computer. "I wasn't the only one that tried to do so."
"Ken," Daisuke warned turning around in his seat to look at him.
Taichi nodded. "So this digital world is being manipulated by its host planet?"
"If this world is surrounding Earth, the Digital World and the Dark Ocean than I'm not sure." Koushiro spoke up. "However, I didn't really consider that the wormhole could have taken us to another planet in our own universe. If I can break into this digital world's programming I will have more information."
"Back to work for us I guess." Wallace grinned brightly. Taichi wasn't sure how they could work on something like that for seven hours then, find out that they had a little hope, and be excited to keep working. Then again, he didn't use computers for anything, but video games.
"Takeru will you keep monitoring the brightness of the sky. If it never gets completely dark we may need to set a schedule for sleeping and working." Ken looked up at him.
"Got it. I can use my stop watch." Takeru used the ladder to get up to the upper compartment.
It was nearly 25 hours later 31 since they arrived; maybe about 36 hours since they left Earth that Takeru determined that it never did get truly dark. It was always some form of dusk. It would get light enough that it almost seemed like the sun would appear at any moment, but then it would wane and get dark again until it was nearly night, some of the brightest stars even shown in the sky, but not many. However it never got truly light or truly dark. It was bizarre. As far as Takeru could tell a single cycle was about 24 hours, but he couldn't be certain because they'd only been there one day. After 31 hours of working, however he decided that they needed a break. It was starting to get darker again, so he thought it they should start the schedule there.
He climbed out of the top compartment and went to the front. The guys looked worse than they did before. Taichi was still driving, Daisuke was still helping him and the other guys were all still working at their computers. Wallace and Ken stopped as soon as he got down from the compartment. Daisuke got up and came over meeting them at the computer table.
"It looks like 24th hour cycles. I'm not completely sure, but I think we should call it a night. Taichi can't keep driving like this and you guys can't keep working. We need to rest sometime and the digimon do as well."
"Great, I can cook dinner." Daisuke offered they had only had snacks since they started driving. It was fine to get by, but snacks didn't really provide people with good nutrients.
"Oh yeah are you a good cook?" Wallace asked curiously. He didn't picture Daisuke as someone who could cook, but he did look like a person who liked to eat. So he probably had to be decent.
"I can make a few dishes. June's much better…" Daisuke's expression fell at the thought of his sister.
Ken stood up putting his computer away carefully. "I'll help with the prepping. What do you want me to do?" Ken steered Daisuke over to the kitchen area. It was only about two steps away from the couch/computer area, but there was a difference.
"I'll tell Taichi to stop, I bet the digimon want to get out and stretch their legs. I know I do," Takeru said. Wallace grimaced looking a Koushiro. He hadn't looked up from his computer or even acknowledged that he heard what was going on around them. "Don't worry I'm sure Tai can take care of him."
Wallace looked relieved. "In that case I'm going to use the bathroom and then I'll join you."
Takeru nodded and turned to face Taichi. Taichi caught his eyes in the mirror. Taichi relented. Maybe he didn't need to take charge like he had to in the past. No one was a kid anymore. They were adults and they could help make the decision with him. Taichi slowed the RV to a stop and turned it off.
"We might have to abandon the RV in a couple days." Taichi told Takeru as he made his way over. "I don't know how long the gas will last and the solar power never kicked in today. Jyou gave us a few spare gas cans, but that's not going to last more than a week."
"I'll take what we can. We drove farther than we could walk in a week!" Takeru claimed.
"That's true." Taichi agreed. "I'm going to come outside with you guys. I want to use my spyglass again. I know what's behind me, but maybe I'll see a hill to one of the sides."
"Okay. We'll see you out there." Wallace returned with Lopmon in his arms. "Let's get going guys." He said to the digimon leading them out. Tentomon and Augmon stayed inside waiting for Taichi. Wormon stayed by Ken, but Veemon followed Terrimon outside.
"Alright Shiro," Taichi leaned over his laptop screen. "You heard everyone. You have five minutes and I want you outside."
Koushiro looked up at Taichi. He smiled slightly. He probably would have kept working, but he also knew that being well rested and ready for the unexpected was just as important if not more so. Taichi grinned and stood up straight. He had been driving for more than 30 hours and he needed to stretch just as much as the digimon.
Koushiro caught his sleeve when he tried to step away. Koushiro pulled him back and leaned up to kiss Taichi on the lips. Taichi turned looking surprise. Ken and Daisuke weren't that far away. "We're going to be living in close quarters for a while, Tai," Koushiro said softly. It was an explanation. It was typical for Taichi and Koushiro to be affectionate with each other in their home. Their home just included four other people. Either, Taichi and Koushiro had to start acting differently around each other, or the guys were going to have to get use to seeing them kiss. Koushiro it seemed to decide on the latter.
"Awesome." Taichi didn't mind. He caught Tentomon and Augmon's looks. "Alright you two we're going outside."
Outside of the RV Takeru and Wallace had figured out how to pull out an overhang from the side of the RV. It created a little porch like area. If there was wood around maybe they could have a campfire. "We thought if anyone wanted to pull out the tents and sleeping bags they could stay out here."
"The beds actually look really comfortable." Taichi wasn't sure because he hadn't tried them, but he was looking forward to crawling into bed with Koushiro a little later.
"Well, after tonight we'll remember who snores and who's a mouth breather." Takeru smiled. "So we might change our minds."
"I don't even know if I ever stayed with Taichi or Ken at night before." Wallace frowned. He had been roommates with Koushiro in college when Taichi had been in Milan and he knew that Takeru and Daisuke had helped Wallace with Cherubimon in American, and had stayed with Wallace since. However, he couldn't remember staying over with Wallace before.
"Well, Taichi doesn't snore, if I remember, but sometimes he mumbles in his sleep." Takeru replied. "It became comforting after a while. I know Jyou snored a little, but the worse was Mimi! Although she never admitted it!"
"Well, I know Mimi-chan snores, but I think it sounds cute." Wallace waggled his brows. Takeru shook his head at Wallace's brass.
Taichi laughed lightly. "It should be fine everyone is exhausted right now, but if it's bad I'll leave out a sleeping bag." He pulled out his spyglass. "I'm going to look around." Taichi waved heading around to start from the front of the RV. Even though he had been looking in that direction all day, he could still see more with the spyglass.
Augmon and Tentomon followed him around they were pretending that they were helping, but Taichi knew that they were both just concerned about him. It didn't look like a digimon could just sneak up on him since there was nothing to hide behind, but that didn't mean something couldn't happen.
Koushiro joined him on the other side of the RV. "Okay now who is working too hard?"
Taichi laughed at Koushiro for even thinking that Taichi was the workaholic out of the two of them. Sure if he was training for a soccer game, he'd train hard, maybe too hard, but that was play not work. Also, part of training for soccer was knowing when to take breaks and Koushiro only sort of knew how to do that. "Just because you're not on your computer doesn't mean you're not still working, up there in your head."
"I'm trying to relax Tai." Koushiro admitted. It wasn't easy for him to shut his mind off. Taichi sympathized with him and put an arm around his shoulders. "It's hard to even have questions at this point you know. There is too much information. I'm just trying to gather it all. I took a break from that, but I know that I'm sorting everything. It's mostly subconscious, but it still makes it hard to focus on the present."
"Well, everytime you think about something just stop and think about me instead," Taichi hummed.
"That's not a bad idea." Koushiro looked at Taichi. "Didn't your mother say that's what she does when she mediates only; she thinks peace, peace, peace."
"Um basically, but wouldn't you rather think about me?" Taichi asked.
"Course, Taichi, but I don't think that really helps me relax." Koushiro smiled looking up at him. Taichi smiled back.
"I smell food!" Augmon tugged at Taichi's jeans.
"I also smell food. I think Daisuke might be close to being finished." Tentomon said.
"Alright we'll finish up here." Taichi didn't really need to look behind the RV. He wouldn't be able to see farther in that direction than they had traveled, but something might have been missed. Koushiro followed him around anyway and their partners came too. Both didn't look too pleased that they might be missing dinner so Taichi only looked briefly.
Wallace had found the table that could be pulled out from below the storage units. It couldn't be detached from the RV, but it functioned well as a large picnic table. "Is this RV a swiss army knife?" Taichi asked.
"I think RV's make the most out of the small space that they have." Koushiro replied.
"I did a lot of camping in Colorado. So I know a little about RVs." Wallace explained. He and Ken were setting the table.
"We're going to use the table in the RV, but we thought we'd let the digimon eat out here," Ken explained.
Taichi looked at Augmon and Tentomon. "Okay guys dig in."
Before bed Taichi made sure to fill the gas tanks with the spare ones that Jyou had left them. He was surprised when Koushiro came looking for him. Koushiro was even in his sleeping pants and it was adorable, but it made Taichi curious. Why hadn't Koushiro just waited for him in bed?
"Tai what are you doing?" Koushiro watched Taichi as he filled the tank carefully. He had a gas can and a half left.
"I want to be set for tomorrow." Taichi explained.
"Did the solar panels not work?" Koushiro asked. He turned his head to look up at the solar panels.
"No, sun." Taichi reminded.
"You should have said something Tai." Koushiro frowned. "I've been running the computers on digital power. We already have a receiver. I can put the excess energy into the solar panels. It should work about the same."
"I didn't know you could do that?" Taichi looked up sheepishly.
"Miyako did it with Augmon remember?"
"We don't want to take the digimon's energies." Taichi frowned.
"We're not going to. The energy comes from the world itself. I can convert it so that it powers the solar panels which will power the RV. It's really simple actually and the digital energy is just converted back into digital energy in the end." Koushiro rubbed at his eyes. "Come to bed okay?"
"Are you afraid to sleep without me?" Taichi asked. It was a little harsh, but Koushiro didn't seem to notice. He smiled and that surprised Tai. "What?"
"The bed is strange I know I'm not at home. I can't sleep." Koushiro stepped closer. "I think it will go away if you're there."
Taichi carefully pulled the gas can from the tank and put it away. He didn't want Koushiro to be lonely. That's why both of them had agreed to come right, so they didn't have to be apart. Taichi took Koushiro's hand and led him into the RV. Daisuke and Ken were already up in the compartment over the driving cab. Daisuke was whispering, it was loud enough to hear the hiss of his voice, but not the words. Wallace was in his room above Taichi and Koushiro's. Takeru was coming out of the bathroom. He was staying with Wallace in the room above Taichi's.
Taichi let Takeru go in front of them. Their room was pretty small. Taichi could stand, but it was a near thing. It was mostly a bed, but there were drawers and cupboards in the walls the provided closet space. There was a small area in front of the bed that led up to the main part of the RV and there were small spaces between the bed and walls to walk between. They had to watch their head when going down the three steps, but luckily they had a door at the bottom that provided some privacy. Tentomon had set up a smallish hammock in the corner which he was laying in. Augmon was curled up on a pillow at the foot of the bed.
Taichi rubbed his head when he passed him. He still had to get dressed for bed. Koushiro slipped in on his side saying good night to Tentomon. Taichi took his cue and put on only pajama pants. Then he crawled into his side. Koushiro slid close pressing them nose to nose. "Koushiro?"
"You're all I have now, Tai." Koushiro explained. Taichi wrapped his arms firmly around him. "I think that journey was harder on me than I thought."
"We're going to be okay, Shiro. We can't be unhappy when we're with each other." Taichi whispered.
"True, but I need your proximity right now." Koushiro flushed slightly in their dark room.
Taichi was surprised by that Koushiro might not be the bearer of courage like Taichi was, but he was always confident in himself and in Taichi. He never doubted. This wasn't really doubt, not in Tai and not in Koushiro, but in the upcoming journey. Koushiro was worried about surviving. Taichi kissed Koushiro on the side of his neck. "We were picked for a reason Koushiro. We can do this."
Koushiro nodded closing his eyes. "I know that, but I still feel a little uneasy."
"Understood, and you can cuddle with me all night if you want." Taichi promised. He felt Koushiro melt closer to him. He pressed his face against Taichi's chest and his fingers curled into the waistband of Taichi's sleep shorts. "Love you, Koushiro."
"I love you too." Koushiro said softly, but his confidence wasn't gone then.