Title: Always Follow the Rabbit
Author: Mrpointyhorns
Rating: M
Status: In Progress
Part: 21
Pairings: Taichi/Koushiro
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: So I must admit. I was a bit distracted. I was writing this for a while, but a new rabbit showed up. I was splitting time between the two for a while. I ended up posting that at AO3. I have the same Author name if you want to take a look at it. It's a Supernatural fic. Anyway, that rabbit is happy for now. So, I have been able to focus on following this rabbit! I have another 100 pages that can be loaded, and I'm still writing. I've had to start up the fic in another word document, because word doesn't think the story is written in English.
The story is back with Taichi and the other for a while. We'll get back to Koushiro and Takato in a few chapters. What do you guys think of the crossover on Seasons 1&2 and 3. I have been trying to find a story that does that for a while. I know there are some, but I haven't found any that has Taichi and Koushiro as a pairing, so that's how this was originally born.
Before Pegasusmon touched down at the RV Daisuke was bubbling over with excitement and urged Takeru and Taichi to hurry up and follow him into the RV. Taichi exchanged a look with Takeru. His heart felt so heavy right then, he wanted return to his room early for the day, but he wasn't sure what would happen if he did that. He might lie down and stay in bed for another week like the last time. He thought maybe it was best to at least follow Daisuke and hear what he wanted to say, and then maybe get something to eat before going to bed. Maybe that would ease the feeling in his gut.
Taichi let Daisuke pulled him into the RV and lead him over to the table; a few steps from the door. Ken and Wallace looked up at him from their laptops. "What is it?" Takeru asked from behind Taichi. Taichi looked back at him grateful that he was around and just as confused at Taichi felt. Patamon flew from Takeru's arms up to the loft over the cab of the RV. The other digimon and Rika were up there, except for Agumon who was watching the fox-like digimon that was still in the passenger seat.
Taichi watched Patamon play with Lopomon with mild interest. "Izzy emailed," Ken finally answered Takeru. Taichi snapped his gaze to Ken and saw that he wasn't lying. Looking to Wallace and Daisuke confirmed the story as well. "It says: "Safe. Trying to get home. ~ Izumi." Taichi moved closer looking over Wallace's shoulder at the message. He could hardly believe it. Koushiro, his Koushiro was alive and he was safe for the moment. Taichi felt relief fill his chest, his legs became jelly and his hands began to shake. "I'm sure it's him. The email was sent from his computer."
"We tried to reply right away, but the email bounced back. Maybe he is having trouble sending communication that's why it took so long for him to send something, and why we can't seem to reach him now. But if he's broken through already, he'll return before we know it," Wallace explained sounding bright and happy.
Taichi collapsed into an empty chair at the table. He brought his hands up to his face. They shook for a moment until he covered his eyes with them. He felt so numb. He knew what Ken and Wallace said, but his mind was foggy and his heart was scrunching up. Taichi pulled away from his friends and fell into his mind thinking about the words. Thinking about Koushiro making it back, he thinks about running out into the desert and scooping Koushiro up in his arms and twirling him around, because that was how people reunited in movies, but he was sure it would embarrass Koushiro. He wouldn't care though. He would just twirl about until they toppled over. Koushiro.
He was back in the present and pulled his hands back from his face. Daisuke was sitting on the corner of the couch now and Takeru in the remaining chair. They were discussing something. The tunnel? The children that needed them. Right. Now that they were assured that Koushiro was safe their attention turned to the child prisoners. Taichi pulled his attention enough to listen.
"I think it might be better to find another entrance to the tunnels instead of continuing where we are. We're making progress, but it could still be weeks before we can get through," Ken suggested.
"I've been studying the map," Takeru spoke up. "The prison is marked although hard to see, there are other marks like it around the desert. Maybe the children were taken to one of those locations."
"Even if they weren't we could possibly find an entrance to the tunnel there," Ken agreed nodding his head in agreement.
"What about 'Shiro?" Taichi asked sitting up more and putting his hands on his pants rubbing the sweat from them. "He'll return here, or try to."
"We don't know when that will be, and when he does return he'll be able to contact us easily. We could return." Wallace spoke up he fidgeted a little bit. "If he tracked us down once, he can do it again, so this location might not be necessary anyway."
Taichi frowned. He didn't like that. If they left this place and Koushiro returned it could take days for them to return what if Koushiro needed them. What if he starved? But, then he thought about the children, like Rika who were prisoners. He knew that Koushiro wouldn't want them waiting on him, especially now that they knew he was okay. He would want them to find the children and help them. Taichi felt his shoulders fall and he gave a small nod. "All right."
"Okay!" Daisuke stood up pulling the map from where it was folded on the table and opening it up. "We should go to whichever one of these is closest."
Ken and Wallace started to discuss with Daisuke which mark on the map might hold the most promise and a little bit about what the best route was there. Taichi looked away his gaze fell on the strange fox-digimon. She was looking back at them. She was watching them and listening to them. Which seemed to be progress from when they first captured her, but they hadn't received any information from her, even her name. Though sometimes she would thank Ken for his kindness when he fed her.
Taichi wasn't sure about her. On the one hand, since she had outright attacked Rika and tried to take her to Sandiramon it was good to keep her in their custody and make sure she couldn't try to hurt them again, or rat them to Sandiramon. On the other hand, it was starting to be a waste keeping her around. She didn't seem outright hostile to them even when she attacked she seemed to be doing her job, and at one point she even seemed confused by the digimon and their human partners, but she didn't seem like she hated them or was disgusted like Rika had described. Also, in his gut he felt that releasing her might gain her trust.
He stood up and the guys around the table froze. He stepped around the table and to the passenger seat. "What's your name?"
The digimon looked up at him startled at first, but then looked indifferent. Taichi waited a few moments. "Renamon."
Taichi nodded. Then he turned away. "We should release her," He said to his friends.
They guys looked at him in surprise and confusion, but none of them argued. Maybe they felt the same as he did, or maybe they trusted him. Ken stood up. "I'll do it." Ken brought Wormmon out of the RV and opened the passenger door. Stingmon was there now and he picked up Renamon from the seat. The three of them disappeared behind the closed door.
"Wait, Ken." Daisuke jumped up and ran outside with Veemon at his heels.
Daisuke was the one to drive and because the desert was mainly bare, Ken and Wallace pointed Daisuke in the correct direction and he drove straight without making any turns. Like everything so far, this place Ken and Wallace wanted to go was far away and after a day, they had hardly made a dent. However, the prison was long behind them and could no longer be seen. They stopped for the "evening" and made dinner. It was Wallace's turn and he was making pulled pork.
Taichi left the RV and went outside to look around with this spyglass. Agumon stuck with him, but he didn't say much just followed Taichi around and looked concerned whenever Taichi looked over to him. Taichi looked at his digital device and it remained silent in every direction he went around the RV.
"Tai," Agumon said softly after the nth time Taichi checked. He looked on with worry. Taichi gave just a little smile and Agumon touched his claw to Taichi's leg. "He is okay."
That was easy to agree with. Koushiro was okay, he said so in his email and Taichi trusted that. No, it was Taichi who was unwell. Even though Koushiro had sent the email and Taichi knew he was safe, he had yet to shake the fear that curled in his stomach and in his heart. He hadn't actually lost Koushiro, but believing that he had for days had hurt Taichi so much. He couldn't let go of the feeling of loss or helplessness, lonliness, fear. He was trying to hang on to his gained control, but he felt very near to falling apart. Agumon must have seen it in his eyes because he was hugging Taichi's around his stomach and Taichi hunched down to return the hug.
After a while, maybe a few minutes or maybe closer to an hour, Takeru found him. He shuffled on his feet slightly and looked back the way he came. Then, he moved forward until he was in front of Agumon and Taichi. Taichi saw his shoes come into focus on the ground behind Agumon. Taichi looked up at him and Takeru face fell. "Dinner's ready."
Agumon moved back from Taichi and looked eager to return to the RV, but he held fast by his friend. Taichi smiled gently at that loyalty. He stood up straight and gestured for Agumon to go ahead which the digimon did in a hurry. Taichi and Takeru fell in step moving around the RV to the picnic table. "You know, I still haven't gotten over losing Angemon." Takeru started. Taichi stopped behind the RV, the picnic table just out of view. "Even though, he came back, even after so many years. Once something like that happens it is always apart of you. Most days I don't even think about it, but sometimes it all comes back. It will always be apart of you too, Tai. Sometimes you can control it and it will be empowering to you, but other times it will paralyze you and there is nothing you can do about it."
Taichi stared at Takeru listening to him and believing his wisdom. If Takeru had compared what happened to anything else, like the loss of a pet, a grandparent or his parents divorce, he would have disregarded the words. However, because he compared it to his experience with losing Angemon he accepted the words. It was part of the reason why it was so difficult to date someone without a digimon partner and almost impossible to date anyone with no or little knowledge of digimon. They just didn't understand how deep a friendship and bond they shared with their digimon. "What can I do?"
"It helped some when I wrote the story down," Takeru explained with a shrug of his shoulders. "You don't have to do that, but it can be helpful to get all those feelings on paper and out of your head. Maybe make it a letter to Koushiro that you could give him when he gets back."
Taichi eyed that suggested suspiciously. "Did you just life coach me?"
Takeru smiled slightly. "She's pretty good at being a life coach."
He didn't need to say who she was, because he meant Sora. Taichi frowned a little because Takeru couldn't even say her name. Takeru turned away when he saw it and walked around the RV towards the picnic table. Taichi sighed and shook off the disappointment. He shouldn't be disappointed. He hadn't heard Takeru speak well about Sora since before he went to Milan. So he should be happy at the progress right? He wasn't sure. Even though Takeru had said something kind it was obvious that it was in spite of his feelings regarding her, and so it couldn't really be progress. Still, he shouldn't be disappointed either. Why wasn't Koushiro around to talk to about this sort of thing? Taichi's thoughts stalled as he remembered why and his heart fell again. The temporary reprieve in his melancholy returned. However, he remembered Takeru's words and tried to channel it to empower him to move and fight. He took one step and then a few more and he shook off most, but a small hum of sadness as he went around the RV to the picnic table.
Everyone was sitting at the table even the digimon. Rika, who was no longer afraid of them and actually enjoyed their company, sat between Terrimon and Lopomon, Wormmon and Patamon were sitting on the table because they couldn't reach the table from the seats, at that end of table. Agumon and Veemon sat across from Rika. That put the human adults together at the other end; closest to the RV door. Daisuke and Ken sat close together. Ken was talking to Wallace and Takeru, but Daisuke remained quiet watching Ken with a sweet expression, and nibbling on his sandwich. Taichi went over and sat down next to Agumon putting the digimon between him and the rest of the guys. The guys didn't seem to worry about it too much and continued their conversation.
"Here Tai." Agumon pulled the plate of sandwiches over and another of potato salad. Taichi made a dish. When he was finished Veemon asked if any of the people were going to want seconds and when everyone said no the digimon quickly divided the rest of the food amongst them.
Taichi picked up his sandwich and was just going to take a bite when a blast of fire shot across the table. Everyone jumped up and anyway from the table. The digimon turning immediately in the direction it came.
A large beast like digimon was charging in their direction. Its skin was flames, with deadly claws and a maw filled with sharp teeth. "Whoa it's a lion!" Daisuke exclaimed.
"That's not a lion." Ken said, a well timed flame attack had the people ducking out of the way. Terrimon send a whirl of wind in the direction of the attack pushing it away from the RV to fizzle in the sand some miles away.
"That's Lynxmon," Patamon explained. "Gabumon told me its one mean kitty. It's howling blaster attack is not to be messed with and watch out of the wild nine claws attack."
Lynxmon was now only a few feet from the table and poised ready for an attack. "Rebels, you'll get a good price when I take you to Sandarimon." He crouched down ready to attack.
"Not this again," Taichi complained remembering what Renamon had said when she first showed up.
"Come on Veemon let's fight." Daisuke called.
"Rika you hold on to Lopomon for me okay?" Wallace asked. Then he looked at Terrimon. "You ready."
"Wait, this one's mine." Renamon's voice called from the top of the RV. Taichi looked up as she jumped from the top landing between Lynxmon and everyone else. She looked back at them eyes floating over all of them pausing when she looked at Rika and then finally going to Ken.
"Okay," Ken agreed. He stepped closer to Rika. Rika looked up at him and then back at Renamon, she hugged Lopomon close to her.
Renamon turned back to Lynxmon. "You should have stayed in the desert." She jumped up from the ground. "Diamond Storm!" She called and a shower of Diamond rained on Lynxmon.
Lynxmon was hit, but it didn't look like he was damaged at all. He leapt forward and attacked with a howling blaster attack. Renamon was pushed back immediately, hurt slightly, but she still looked okay.
Renamon's feet and paws lit in blue flames and she pulled her fist back aiming for the digimon's face and landing a clear blow, before jumping back. Lynxmon let out a loud roar, but he didn't look injured. "Enough of this, hand them over to me. I'm taking them in not you."
"You will do no such thing." Renamon leaped out of the way when Lynxmon tried to hit her again, but a second attack hit her in the back of a leg; she slid to a halt in the sand. She panted heavily.
"Tai." Daisuke slid up beside Taichi. "We can't let this continue."
Taichi looked on as the digimon exchanged attacks again, Renamon was growing tired, but Lynxmon looked like it wasn't hurt at all. "Lynxmon looks like he's a higher level than Renamon. I think we need to have are partners digivolve."
"Yah." Daisuke looked at Veemon. "Go!"
"Wait," Patamon flew over with Takeru by his side. "Use the Digiegg of Friendship, okay? Gabumon knows Lynxmon because Lynxmon and Garurumon are always fighting."
"Garurumon?" Lynxmon growled looking up from his fight he turned on the other people and digimon. Renamon was panting at a distance from them.
"Okay! Digi Armor Energize!" Daisuke turned to Veemon.
"Right." Veemon jumped up. "Veemon…"
"Wait!" Renamon jumped up. She moved forward stumbling. Veemon paused and so did everyone else. "This is my fight."
"Don't be crazy." Daisuke argued. "Let's just get rid of this guy. Veemon…"
"Daisuke wait." Taichi looked at Daisuke.
Lynxmon growled and blasted at them, causing everyone to duck or dive out of the way. He leapt up pulling his paw back ready to strike nearly getting his paws in Wallace's face, but Renamon jumped in taking the blow to the gut.
"Renamon!" Rika cried out struggling against Ken's grip. "Let go."
Lopomon put his ears around Ken's shoulders and his arms around Rika's helping to hold her in place. Ken glared as Rika's struggling turned to shrieks and sobs. "Wormmon now!"
Wormmon digivolved to Stingmon instantly and Veemon armor digivolved to Raidramon. Agumon, Patomon and Terrimon held back for the moment. "You digivolved?" Lynxmon balked stepping back. "How's this possible?"
Renamon struggled to her feet in front of Wallace and faced Lynxmon. "These digimon are partners with these humans, and they wouldn't let you hurt them."
"Partners!" Lynxmon roared. "That's forbidden."
"With good reason." Renamon looked back at the digimon and their human partners. "Because digimon and their partners cannot be defeated." Renamon looked back at Lynxmon.
"What about you? Why are you helping them?" Lynxmon growled.
Renamon shifted in her spot, but did not reply. Stingmon and Raidramon moved forward. Lynxmon stepped back looking at the two of them and then at the remaining digimon that had yet to digivolve. Lynxmon darted away into the desert as fast as possible.
"Should we follow him?" Raidramon asked Daisuke.
"I'm coming with you." Daisuke jumped up from where he had ducked the earlier attack and raced over to get on Raidramon's back. "Let's go."
"Daisuke!" Taichi cried stopping the digimon and Daisuke in their tracks. "What are you doing? It's too dangerous!" Taichi ran forward standing in front of Raidramon.
"It's okay Tai. We're just going to make sure Lynxmon is a safe distance and we'll be back." Raidramon reassured.
"No! It's not safe." Taichi grabbed at Daisuke and started to hall him off of Raidramon. "You're both staying here." He felt his chest tighten and his hands shook.
"Tai." Daisuke tried to get out of Taichi's grip, but it didn't help.
"I'll be with Daisuke, so there isn't anything to worry about." Raidramon assured.
"Tentomon was there too! They weren't safe! He wasn't safe!" Taichi screamed. He saw the darkness fill the corners of his vision and his breathing was short and tight. Taichi felt hands on him, arms, he wasn't sure whose, but there were many and they were pulling him away from Daisuke. Taichi screamed and tried to get away from the hands around him kicking and hitting, when that didn't work, he just collapsed the dark in the corner of his eyes consumed his vision, he heard faint sounds for a moment, but those faded too and then he only felt that hands. He tried to curl away from them, but they stayed on him, pulling him, tugging him, carrying him and then those were gone too and he was alone. Alone with the darkness. Alone with the fear. Alone.