Ominous Flame

Chapter 16

Author Notes: We have returned my friends. Last time Ophanimon showed everyone what happened to Takuya before he came to the Digital World-with her(technically me) traumatizing them for life lol. Now it's time to see what goes on after. I do not own Digimon.

3rd P.O.V

"Takuya! Please come out!" It's been hours since they got a glimpse into Takuya's past. "Give it up shorty...he left. Stop wasting your breath and let's head to Forest Terminal already." Tommy shot JP a harsh glare, absolutely enraged.

Out of all of them, the eight year old refused to give up. Purposely ignoring the concerned looks all of them were shooting his way as he kept calling out for his surrogate brother. They didn't understand that something was wrong.

That him leaving wasn't a random thing. He wouldn't of left them all, let alone him without even giving a proper goodbye. Especially with how Shamanmon emphasized how bad his wounds are or the fact that he just woke up.

Just a few minutes between waking up and the spiritual digimon alerting them and he just got up? Left without a trace? Something was either bothering him, or Takuya was having one of those-as he liked to call it-gut feelings that there was trouble.

"Takuya!" JP shook his head with a sigh. He had tried to stop him, but if Tommy wanted to shout till he lost his voice fine. It doesn't change the fact that he was right all along. Not that it really made him feel better mind you.

If anything it only hurt more since he was actually starting to warm up to their latest addition before shit hit the fan. "Look...there's a sign! It says 'Forest Terminal." Koji for the most part kept silent since leaving Shamanmon's temple, focusing on their destination with a blank face.

No one, not even Koichi could figure out what he was thinking or feeling. Although the same could be said for his dark counterpart in terms of silence. He was the more talkative, open of the two. And it made the silence more unbearable as his eyes were glazed with a never ending sadness and guilt.

Despite not saying as such he was completely on Tommy's side. They needed to find Takuya, to make sure he was ok. And...so that he could properly apologize for hurting him like he did as Jagerloweemon, a spirit he refused to change into no matter what.

'Don't be like me Koichi...Don't lose yourself.'

Those were the only words he truly heard before Takuya's necklace made him human again. Over the last few days he had been wondering like the others what exactly he had meant when he was trying to calm Koichi down.

But the vision gave him a detailed story that sent shivers coursing through his body. He was tricked into the digital world, turned into an evil legendary warrior against his will. And at some point he had broken free.

Probably thanks to Ophanimon. Takuya had told them about her, it only made sense that she would return him to what he was before Cherubimon's corruption, and sent him their way. He wanted to make up whatever terrible things he did.

And regardless of what happened to him wanted to prevent Koichi from following that path. "What a creepy fog..." Now he could see why Takuya was so afraid of his powers. And of Koichis'. "Can't see a thing."

Unease circulated through the group as each member pulled out their D-tectors. Even Zoe despite not being able to shift forms took out hers. But it seemed that though she no longer had her spirit, she still had powers as the device began to glow, blowing away the fog.

Allowing sunshine to fall on them and their surroundings. "Hey-look footprints!" Immediately Tommy's eyes lit up as familiar sneaker tracks were seen. "These are Takuya's! He's heading for Forest Terminal too!" Sadly none of his companions shared his excitement.

"Who's with him though?" There was another set of prints embedded into the earth, either overlapping or beside the fire elemental. A wave of worry filtered through each of them as they continued. Following the path laid out.

Deep through the forest, they were hidden through thick brush. Keeping their ears out, for once Tommy staying quiet as he tilted his head, listening. "AHH!" Unfortunately they had gotten their wish as a familiar voice rings out in pain.

They followed the harsh sounds, still hidden as Takuya finally comes within view. Bound against a tree with thick vines wrapped around his injured form. "Talk now!" It was Grumblemon, growling with his hammer threateningly close to the human's chest.

"I told you I got nothing to say you ugly little troll." It was the wrong thing to say as the hammer slams into him, causing him to cough out blood. Any progress he had made with healing was ruined as Grumblemon reopened his wounds.

It taking sheer seconds for his shirt to be stained red. "You know where others are! Tell now where they hiding!" Tommy whimpered behind the bushes. Ready to digivolve, to go and help-only for Zoe to hold him back, shaking her head.

Though she was just as scared, just as horrified with what she was witnessing. "Got rocks in your ears or something? You can ask me as many times as you want but it doesn't matter. I. Don't. Know."

Koji gritted his teeth, flinching as the legendary warrior struck again. "Lie! You were with legendary warriors before. I want spirits and you tell me where they are." He was dying all over again, slowly but surely bleeding out.

Yet he managed a smile. His eyes glowing with defiance. "I was. But I left. I have no idea where they are right now. You'd be better off looking yourself buddy." Growling Grumblemon grabbed his face.

"Me no forget you attacking me. Payback time human. Then I find spirits." He pushes Takuya's head back against the tree bark, the sound echoing within the trees. "Say bye bye human." Takuya closed his eyes, prepared for his fate. Allowing the darkness to swallow him completely.

XxXxXxXxxXxxXxXxXXxxXXxXxX

Slowly, painfully, amber eyes opened. "Hey look he's awake! Guys!" His vision was blurry, a mirage of movement and colors before returning to focus. "Tommy? What..." Suddenly he was surrounded on all sides.

"Hey! don't try to move." What were they all doing here? "Take it easy, Grumblemon did a huge number on you." Takuya snorts, fully aware of that. It was like he got run over all over again. Though he winces a second later, the action jarring his aches and wounds.

Still he needed to move, to get up. "Dude lay down! You got hammered to oblivion for Pete's sake!" Neither him nor they should stay. "Grumblemon could come back at any time-" Koichi was the one to place a gentle hand on his shoulder.

Carefully, yet firmly keeping him down. "Grumblemon won't be back for awhile...I made sure of that." Takuya blinked, completely confused as he took in the cave he and the others were currently in. Just what happened?

"I must say it's a miracle you are still with us. Most digimon would've reverted to a digiegg with the damage you took." Even Bokomon had to put his two cents in on how bad things were. Suddenly something wet hit his arm, causing tired amber eyes to glance to his left. "Tommy?" The boy in question was crying.

Trying his hardest to stifle it, but failing completely. "What's wrong buddy?" Trembling fingers tried to reach out, to offer comfort even though it caused him insufferable torment. "I-I'm so glad your awake! We saw Grumblemon attack you and and you weren't moving-"

Realization formed on his face as Tommy finally released his tears. "Sorry you had to see that kiddo. But I'm fine now-" Like busting a dam, the water works flew along with the eight year old's temper. "You're NOT fine! Why did you leave?! You let Grumblemon capture and hurt you!" It was a few moments of silence.

Minus the crying as(for once) ungloved fingers rest on the boy's leg. Getting his attention. Takuya kept his gaze towards the cave's entrance, unable to look all of them in the eye. Not wanting them to see how little he regretted his choices.

"I can't remember exactly but I thought I heard Ophanimon call out to me while I was sleeping, telling me there was trouble. I...when I woke up, I could feel like something was wrong. So as soon as Shamanmon left me alone I got up. Sure enough not too long after I left the temple Grumblemon found me."

He wasn't sure why Ophanimon decided to try contacting him, but he wanted to hazard a guess that she knew the earth gremlin was coming. She wanted to prepare them for another skirmish. But Takuya wasn't going to let that happen.

At least not at Shamanmon's already busted temple. "He didn't know I had my own spirit on me, but he thought he could take me hostage and interrogate me on where you all were. Figuring i'd just tell him." What good it did him.

"I had hoped you guys would be long gone. Already shooting for Forest Terminal. Instead you all just had to come save my sorry ass." He wasn't sure if he was grateful or disappointed with that. "You guys shouldn't have done that." Koji narrowed his eyes at that comment.

Angry. "And why shouldn't we have? After all the shit you pulled you honestly think we were going to stand around while he beat you to death? Just because you used to be Cherubimon's lackey?!"

Koichi sighed, leave it to his brother to break the ice regarding THAT particular topic. It was heart breaking to watch Takuya pale with fear. "What?" His breathing hitched as his vision whited out for a moment.

A panic attack on the rise until Koichi laid his hand once more on him. Bringing him to reality. "Ophanimon...she showed us how you came to this world. How Cherubimon manipulated you." That didn't make him feel better at all.

"Then you should know to stay away from me. Why the hell are you all still here!?" Smaller hands gripped his, tears still dripping, making goosebumps scatter all over his arm. "You're a good guy Takuya! You didn't ask to do evil things. You just wanted to get Shinya a birthday present."

The sound of his brother's name made Takuya's own tears fall. As roughly as he could he shook his head. Denying every single one of Tommy's claims. "It doesn't matter what I wanted to do for Shinya...I'm not safe to be around." Immediately he grabbed the necklace on his with his free hand.

Feeling warmth settle into his bones. "Even now I can feel the black magic Cherubimon casted on me. Every day I risk falling once more under his influence. Shamanmon returned Agunimon's spirit to what it's supposed to be, but I'm fighting a losing battle."

It was why he avoided joining them for so long. Why he stayed at a distance. "Shamanmon was wearing that necklace when we first met him...he gave it to you?" Leave it to Koichi to figure things out.

Though again...Takuya couldn't help but grimace. Not pleased with how easy it was for him to piece things together. "It's warding off his dark powers. Allowing me to digivolve without him screwing with my head or inflicting intense pain."

And that right there explained why he didn't decide to transform until then. "Well why didn't you say so earlier Takky!" The brunette had every right to give the chubby teen a deadpanned expression. Yeah...why didn't he?

"Right...like you would've believed or accepted the fact that I was one of Cherubimon's ex cronies. That would've gone well before Koji would try stabbing me in my sleep."

Koji snorted, not really denying it. "Time for another long due chat Takuya. Fortunately for me, I don't have to worry about you running away again." As much as he wanted to knock that stupid smug smile off his face...he was right.

No more secrets. No more half truths or lies...well with a few exceptions. "That eager for a bedtime story Koji? And here I thought you were a big bad teenager. I think you all should explain to me why I shouldn't be worried about Grumblemon coming in to interrupt. What happened after I blacked out?"

Time to play catch up. All of them got settled around his incapacitated form. Each of them throwing in their perspectives on what had happened after. It was difficult to make out since there were several occurrences where more than one person chimed in at the same time but he had gotten the gist.

Koichi...digivolved into Jagerloweemon again, this time controlling it completely to take down Grumblemon. "I managed to get Zoe's spirit back, and now he can't digivolve into his beast form. We're safe for the moment." Safe was a subjective term, one that again the fire elemental couldn't find assurance in.

"If you managed to take his beast spirit...there's a chance the others will get involved." His body cracked and popped, echoing in the cave before Takuya gave a grunt of defeat. Hating he couldn't move or do anything-again!

As if getting bit and pummeled by a black metal lion wasn't bad enough...whatever healing progress he made within the three days he was unconscious was kissed goodbye with this heroic(suicidal) stunt.

He was a vulnerable liability. "You guys should head out soon...Forest Terminal awaits." All of them frowned at his remark, all annoyed that he thought he was going to be abandoned so easily. Did he really not think he was unimportant or needless?

"We'll get going once you're healed up. Be a little while, but so long as you don't do something stupid it won't be too bad." Bandaged fingers tapped sporadically on the ground, restless as everyone watched on.

Waiting for another bombshell to potentially drop. "You guys, i'm not coming with you. I just told you why its a bad idea to do so. And before you counter the necklace-it helps but it's not going to help forever." JP ruffles his hair, grinning at the disdained expression morphing on the brunette's face.

His previous fears and rude remarks practically gone(though he was long due to give an apology) "So we'll just kick Cherubimon's ass before he takes you over. If we can beat Grumblemon, the rest of his lackeys' should be easy pickings."

If only it was that simple but before he could protest Zoe chimes in, smiling. "Besides you're our guardian escort to Forest Terminal right?" And here comes another white lie that needed to be outed.

"Actually no. While it's true I did speak several times with her, Ophanimon never told me to find and protect you. That...that was on me." It was going to be one hell of a long night. "What else did you lie about?" Man he was ready to sleep...still he had to be honest.

Though again, there were exceptions. He refused to bring up the fact that he was probably dying back in the human world. Still couldn't figure that part out...but he was afraid to delve too deep into that. So for now, he would tell them everything else.

Hoping this doesn't bite him in the ass in the future.

to be continued

Author Notes: Well Takuya, in lieu if that particular statement...I wish you the best of luck lol. But ladies and gents, that is it for now. If you like this story please feel free to fav/follow/review as it would mean a crap ton to me. Tchao for now.