Ominous Flame

Chapter 4

Author Notes: It's a new night(for me) ergo we are due for a new chapter. Last time Takuya or Shagumon found himself dealing with some overwhelming memories. Let's see what happens from there shall we? I do not own Digimon.

3rd P.O.V

It hurt so much.

Where was he?

Why did it feel like his entire being was broken?

"Hey? Hey mister are you ok?" Shagumon felt so fatigued, so much so that it was hard for him to open his eyes. A surprise if he was being honest with himself. It had been a long time since he felt such a strong pull into the dark depth of his subconscious.

Desperately he wanted to go back to sleep but he couldn't. Someone was here, pestering for his attention. But that fatigue leaves instantly the moment he gets a full gaze of his surroundings. Before him was a dark blue sky and bright stars twinkling up above.

Night had fallen with the boy wearing a yellow hat looking at him with concerned gray eyes. It took a second for Shagumon to recognize him. One of the few children he had been spying on earlier had stumbled upon his weakened form.

"What?" How humiliating...With a groan the legendary warrior struggled sitting up. Feeling so weak that the human boy had to help him up. It was pathetic. "What happened to you?" It was a good question, one that he himself wanted to know.

However instead of making a statement, Shagumon found himself holding his breath in shock. Thin, tanned arms resting on top of brown capris. A gloved hand pressed against bright yellow fabric, able to clearly feel thumps from his heart.

From his human heart. Swiveling his head, he abruptly moves his body towards the lake. "He-hey you shouldn't-" His head peaked into the water, instantly he could see his reflection. His Human reflection, with dull red eyes. "What the-" Shagumon stumbled back, holding the bottom half of his face with a shaking hand.

Realization dawns at him as flashes of his past come through to piece the final parts of the puzzle. He was one of the boys from his dream. He was Takuya. And now-he was human!? What happened to his digimon form!?

Suddenly he winced as the sharp pain from before returned. "Ahh!" Though it was far more intense, practically incaving his skull as if he had been hit by a truck. Tommy watched with panic, gripping the older boy. "Hey-are you ok!?"

However this was the real world. Though he was still young, the preteen believed that life was what you make of it. The adventure was what you chose to do. It was why he treated his sneaking to get a taste of Shinya's birthday cake like a mission.

It was why he did a cool pose every time he got past his friends to score a goal in soccer. Life was all about accepting yourself and enjoying both the big, and small things in life. And that's what he did. There was a harsh screech from tires as the sun temporarily blinded the boy.

"Hey look out!" His vision returned, only to go black as something slammed against his body. He literally didn't know what hit him. "Oh no!" Screams hit his ears as his back fell onto hard ground. "Somebody call for help!" Hands roughly grabbed at his pained form.

The agony he was in so intense he couldn't even utter a sound. "Hang in there!" His sense of hearing and touch was fading away-he was fading away. Was he going to die? Without seeing his family ever again?

Then he remembers...He WAS hit by a truck.

One that came out of nowhere. And it was then that- "Mister?" A small hand grabbed ahold of his shoulder, returning his frazzled mind back to reality. "Huh? What's up?" His voice didn't sound right.

For too long he had been Shagumon. Who's vocal cords though not used much was low and deep. Much like an animals. He now sounded younger, just like he did before. "I said you shouldn't move so much if you're hurt. I'm Tommy by the way." He remembered the other two calling him that.

Though he kept that to himself. Instead giving him a weary expression. "Why are you helping me Tommy? What are you doing out here?" It wasn't for a good reason if he was alone. Especially with how red his face was along with the swollen eyes.

"I...I got into an argument with the people I was with, and decided to take a walk. I found you out here." There was far more to it then just that. "I see." But it wasn't any of Shagumon's business, so he let the lie slide.

Instead focusing on the sudden growl that came from his stomach. "You hungry?" A sense of embarrassment overtook the now transformed male as he curls slightly. As if trying to hide the sound. "Yeah...it's been awhile."

Not that he could give a precise time mind you. He didn't have to worry about eating before. "Here-let's see if I have anything." Tommy dives into his pocket, his eyes lighting up in excitement as he takes out a pair of pale green apples.

"Bokomon said these are meat apples and are really tasty." The smile just as quickly dies on the boys' face as he looks at them. A sad, pitiful expression taking its place. "But...they have to get cooked first. Sorry." That look didn't suit him at all. "Let me see it."

Shagumon plucks the strange apple out of Tommy's hand, startling him. "Wha-wait!" Instead of taking a bite like he originally assumed, the weakened legendary warrior summons his fire, engulfing both his hand and the apple in a black flame. "Whoa!" Within a matter of seconds, it's properly cooked.

With a small smile, Shagumon offers it back, glad that he still had his powers...even if it was a pale ember in comparison. "Here, give me the other one and we'll eat." Tommy does as asked, amazed that despite the cooked food just being on fire, it didn't burn his hand at all. And now he could only stand there.

Watching in silent awe as the same trick is repeated with the other raw apple. Together the two dig in, immensely enjoying their little meal. "This is pretty good." A small hum comes from the smaller boy, his cheeks full. But after a moment, he swallows.

"What does yours taste like? Mine's chicken!" There's a slight pause as Shagumon contemplates the question. "Not sure, I recognize the taste, but...I can't think of the name." All he really knew, and cared for at the moment was that it was good. It filled him up nicely.

It...was such a strange feeling, being full and content. There wasn't really a way for him to describe it. "Thank you Tommy." The boy beams at him. "You're welcome! But how'd you do that fire thing? It was so cool!" That brought a chuckle from the fire warrior.

"That's my little secret." From the corner of his eye he could see a shadow shifting through the trees. "Hey Tommy? Didn't you say you were with a group of friends?" Apparently that was the wrong thing to say as Tommy grips the hat on his head tightly.

"No. They're not my friends. They don't even like me. I'm just a stupid, little kid that gets in the way." Automatically Shagumon frowns. That just wasn't true. "You're none of those things Tommy. You helped me just now didn't you?" With a grunt he stood up.

Managing for a minute before stumbling somewhat, only to be caught by his little hero. Immediately making the pyro user smirk. "See? A stupid, useless kid wouldn't have such good reflexes." Now it was Tommy's turn to blush. Still he kicks a rock near him, not believing the older boy.

"I have a power to digivolve into the Legendary warrior of Ice Kumamon...but compared to everyone else i'm weak. I can't do anything right. I think I was chosen as a mistake." This conversation...was starting to sound familiar. Or-no. Not the conversation. But this sadness. And this desire to argue with him.

'I'm not going to school!' A sigh escaped Takuya as he watched his brother hide under the covers. 'Come on buddy-you have to go. Especially if I have to!' It was meant to be a teasing comment, a chance to make his younger sibling laugh.

But all he could hear was a small sniffle from under the sheets. Immediately the elder boy grew concerned. 'Shinya?' Carefully he shuffled over to the bed, finding his brother crying. Though he tried to deny it while wiping his tear streaked face.

'What's wrong kiddo?' Plopping himself on the bed, Takuya found himself tackled by his sibling, crying into his shoulder. Nothing else mattering. 'I don't want to go. No one likes me at my new school. And its too hard!'

Takuya found his arms wrapping tightly around the smaller boy. 'Look buddy, I know it's not easy, but you gotta stay tough. A Kanbara doesn't quit! Besides you're awesome, your classmates just haven't gotten a chance to get to know that.' At that Shinya looks up.

Looking awful with his red face and tears still in his eyes. 'Do you mean that?' Takuya gives a small smile as he ruffles the boy's hair. 'Absolutely. You're a brat-but an awesome one~' He finally got the laugh he had been trying to coax as he received a punch to the shoulder.

'Thanks.' All Shinya got a was a wink and thumbs up. 'Anytime little bro. Now let's go-time to get our asses to school before mom and dad get mad.'

Tommy couldn't help flinching as Shagumon reached his hand towards him. The young eight year old wanted back away, as this wasn't the first time he got hit. His elder brother and the bullies at his school being the reasons for that. Only to be surprised as he receives a soft pat on the head.

He couldn't stop himself from blinking in surprise. "Listen to me when I say this Tommy, there's always going to be a time where you feel bad. When things don't go right. But everyone is here for a reason. There's something special about you they just don't see yet."

No one has ever said that to him before. Not even his mother, who would only look on at disappointment as him and his big brother Yutaka fought with one another. "Then what's so special about me? Why do I get bullied by bigger kids!?" An anger that he had held in for so long unleashed.

His eyes had a fire Shagumon found himself pleasantly shocked to find. Glad to see that there was a hidden strength within him. "Because of how compassionate you are, others find themselves jealous. They see the goodness within you-and feel badly about themselves. So they say and do hurtful things to make you feel how they do."

Whatever retort or argument Tommy was ready to fire back into his face froze, much like his element. Could that be true? "Do you mean that?" Even if it wasn't, the younger legendary warrior wanted to believe in it. He had just met this older kid, but he felt safe with him.

Wiser than how he looked and had a bright sincere smile. "I do. I've seen it first hand." With that Shagumon gingerly pulled away. Standing on his own two feet without anymore support from Tommy.

"Don't let what anyone says put you down-you're stronger than anyone gives you credit for." Saying what he wished to say, Shagumon begins walking away. His being falling into the shadows as he heads further into the TV Forest. "He-hey! Wait. You never told me your name!"

Sneaker enclosed feet didn't stop, but Shagumon did look over his shoulder, throwing his hand up in the air. "I have a feeling we'll see each other again in the future-I'll tell you then." It was a promise-one that Shagumon intended to keep. "I'll hold you to that mister!" Right now he was human.

No longer a digimon-but he wasn't Takuya Kanbara...not yet anyways. Memories were ready to overwhelm him now that they've been unlocked. But he still needed to know how he came into this world-and more importantly what role did Cherubimon play in it.

"Ok lady...now would be a good time to try and do that telepathy thing and answer some of my questions."

to be continued

Author Notes: Wahoo we're done! That's a wrap. Now I do have to say, if you'll let me vent...When I bought the season collection of this version of digimon there was actually a little booklet that had information on the characters listed...and it said that Tommy was a selfish kid.

First off excuse me!? Sure he was a naïve crybaby but...he's a little kid that was literally bullied onto the train, even his brother was a jerk and his mom loved him but...didn't know what to do with his issues.

And I will say I really liked the relationship between him and Takuya, and I wanted to show that there was more to siblings than fighting. We saw Takuya find Shinya an annoying brat in the anime, but over time he came to miss his brother and got close to Tommy...

Am I rambling? I'm rambling...ok, thank you all so much for reading this story. If you like please feel free to fav/follow/review as it would mean a crap ton to me. I'll see you all next time. Tchao for now.