Ominous Flame

Chapter 22

Author Notes: Time for things to go down...but not necessarily the way you think. But fun in the sun is now officially over. I'm ready to stir up some drama. I do not own Digimon.

3rd P.O.V

"Dammit!" This was bad...very, very bad. His anger was getting to him. His flames flickering through his fingers as he aims for the sky. Takuya was doing his utmost to try and calm his emotions. But it was difficult.

This was the first time since coming to the Digital World where such feelings were blooming in his form. Of course he's felt annoyance and upset from time to time, especially when dealing with his trauma or Cherubimon's minions, but there was more to it than that right now.

There was never a time where his powers went out of control like this. Where he felt like a volcano ready to erupt. Tentatively he gripped his necklace trying to breathe. There should be no reason for his powers and emotions acting up like this.

What happened between him and Zoe shouldn't have affected him to this extent. Which meant one thing...he was running out of time. Letting go of the necklace he grabs his d-tector from his swim trunks, relieved that the machine was waterproof as well as his shorts having pockets.

"Ophanimon...what do I do?" He looks into the device, seeing his spirit staring back at him with no answers. He figured she wouldn't pop up, but he had hope that he would be wrong. His grip on the black and red digivice tightened, his eyes(though he couldn't see them) began to glow.

Taking a deep breath again he returns it to his pocket, lifting his dominant hand up. "Stay calm Takuya...you're in control." He knew bottling up his emotions was a recipe for disaster. So he had to channel his flames positively. Safely.

Narrowing his eyes he releases his powers. Concentrating not on the strength or intensity of the fire surging from him, but the shape. "Time to get creative." Instead of it being a blast shooting outwards it shifted in form.

A bird, specifically a phoenix flapping through the sky before disintegrating. The next one turned into a tiger, leaping away as if on the hunt before following it's predecessor. Then a wolf, then a shark, then a monkey.

Again and again he continued, releasing his flames until the pent up emotions he felt coiling within him began to change. Turning into that of fatigue. By the time he heard a rustling of bushes his creations turned smaller, dimmer. Mere embers compared to before.

"Takuya?" Koichi marveled as several fire formed butterflies fluttered around the pyromancer. "What's up Koichi?" Despite feeling so tired, his mind was clearer, more rational. He felt confident turning to face his friend.

Who was awestruck at the sight before him. "What is this?" Takuya watched, amused as his surprise visitor brought out his finger, mesmerized when one of the butterflies landed on him...not burning, but providing a pleasant warmth before disappearing all together.

One by one they vanished, leaving only the two warriors. "Let's just say I needed to express my powers safely...was there a reason you were looking for me?" He couldn't think of any other reason for the dark elemental to be all the way out here.

Far from the beach and Toucanmon's little paradise. "We haven't seen you since you went to go get Zoe, we were worried." As much as he was grateful that they cared, the reminder of their wind comrade made him grimace.

"Right. Well...best go face the music then. Lead the way." The dark twin furrowed his brows, concerned but began walking. "What's happened?" The brunette was uncharacteristically quiet and sullen as he followed.

Twisting his mouth as if tasting something unpleasant. "I got into an argument with her. So I came out here to cool off." Both statements had Koichi gaping in surprise. Neither sounded right, let alone from Takuya of all people.

If anything he was the one breaking up arguments and petty fights. And even if he was involved in one, like in the beginning when he and Koji constantly eyed each other with suspicion, there was never any anger or malicious intentions behind it.

"What was the argument about?" For him to confess that it not only happened but he was genuinely angry to where he needed to let off some steam was a definite concern. "There was some personal stuff...and well. It shouldn't have bothered me to this degree."

Dark blue eyes glance as tanned fingers brush against the beads. "I think Cherubimon's influence is growing...I'm starting to lose myself." His voice was so quiet, barely heard in the wind. But Koichi still heard it.

And his gaze turned determine. "We won't let him win Takuya. Don't give up." Relief coursed through him seeing his companion's mouth twitch into a smile. "I didn't plan on it but thanks." Still that didn't stop him from sighing as dull red eyes glanced towards the sky.

A question forming now that he thought back to what happened before the argument. "Did you guys play?" Now it was Koichi's turn to look sullen, nibbling his lip. "No. It didn't feel right without you-both of you. All of us split up to go find you and Zoe."

Was that a blush on his face? For both of their sake's Takuya pretended not to notice, let alone comment on it. "I see. Sorry to ruin your chill time." At that the raven haired teen shook his head.

Causing another amused smile to form. "You didn't ruin anything. I'm just glad you're alright." Sure, right now. But Takuya had a feeling that wasn't going to last long. If anything it felt like he was marching to a death sentence with each step he took.

Having a pretty good idea what was going to happen the moment they arrive and reunite with the rest of the group. "Thanks Koichi." So for what few moments he had left before things turned to shit, he took in the serene environment and friend by his side.

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Well he certainly knew what to expect when he arrived, but he could've done without the bruise to his back. "Start talking Takuya!" Or the hate filled glare being sent in his direction. "Stop it JP!" Honestly how many times has something like this happened?

Whether it was him or Koji arguments were inevitable, but JP had a temper that really needed to get straightened out. "Let me go." He didn't leave to work on his own issues just for them to reignite because JP wanted to smash him into a wall.

He couldn't afford for his emotions to flare up now. "I'm not doing anything until you tell me what you did to Zoe." Yep, he called it. "Let him go JP-everything's fine." Takuya couldn't help but glance over the stocky male's shoulder.

Meeting her red rimmed gaze. Yeah, there was no way JP was going to believe her. And his thoughts were confirmed as JP tightened his grip on his shirt. Ignoring the looks Tommy, Koichi and Koji were giving them.

"Bullshit Zoe! He's the reason I found you crying. And I'm not going to rest until I get to the bottom of it!" Typical warrior of lightning, always having the need to play the hero. "Enough of this young man! This behavior is inexcusable." Too bad he was painting himself as the villain.

However despite Bokomon's clear frustration on another skirmish, JP ignored him, gritting his teeth. "What. Did. You. Do?" Takuya closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "Let me go JP." He was in control.

He had to stay calm no matter what. Violence would not lead to good results. "Now Takuya!" Still he couldn't stop the flare of annoyance fill his frame. "It's none of your business-stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."

Even with his eyes closed he could feel the anger skyrocket in front of him. Colors bloomed from the darkness as his face jerked to the side, sharp pain expanding from his cheek. "JP!" Koji had seen and heard enough, trying to pull him away.

"The hell is wrong with you!? And you get on my ass about losing my cool." His brother tried to help, grabbing the other free shoulder. "Please let him go!" Both tried separating them...with little results.

Tommy, Zoe and Neemon could only watch, unsure of what to do to try and stop this from escalating further. "And what about Zoe!? Don't either of you care about her? He made her cry!"

The blonde in question flinched at that, unable to look anyone in the eye. "It wasn't a big deal. Just let this go." Her words went on deaf ears. "From the moment you got here all you've done is cause trouble." And JP had enough with all the drama circulating around Takuya.

Not one thing has gone right since he arrived. "How much damage are you going to cause? How many people are you going to hurt before you're satisfied?" Now that...was the straw that broke the camel's back.

He crossed the line with that comment. When Takuya opened his eyes...all JP saw was dark crimson. "Guh!" With strength and speed no one thought possible, JP was punched, his heavy body falling backwards at good couple yards away.

So much so that the twins who tried getting him off the pyromancer actually stumbled, nearly falling themselves. "You don't know shit about me JP-stop fucking pretending you do." He tried. Desperately trying to keep himself in check, to hold in his retorts and bitterness.

But there was no stopping an erupting volcano. The flames he was desperately trying to keep leashed released, surrounding the pyromaniac. Surprisingly not burning the ground...but the heat was intense. Enough to keep everyone a good distance away.

"You think I want to be here? You think I asked to be like this?! If I could snap my fingers and fix things I would've done so in a heartbeat." But he couldn't. In the end he was no savior...he couldn't even save himself.

His mind thought back to the human world-of him possibly dead with his soul being trapped here...they don't know anything about him and what they knew was thanks to Ophanimon's meddling. He still wasn't sure how to feel about them knowing how he came to the Digital World.

But he most definitely isn't going to stand back and let JP talk shit. "You want to know why Zoe was bawling her eyes out? You want to know why the hell I was in the forest trying to chill out? It's because when she asked me out, I said no... and she couldn't accept that." There. He said it. "What?"

to be continued

Author Notes: So...I don't like JP. Not gonna lie, out of everyone I feel like in the show he gets the most developed in terms of interacting with his friends-but I don't like him.

And personally I do like Zoe but i dont ship her with takuya. So when dealing with this dynamic, I was anti love triangle(in general I don't really like them, never have, never will probably) because those can get annoying...this is a love line lol.

Anyways everyone that is it for now. Thank you all for reading, please feel free to fav/follow/review if you like this story as it would mean so much to me. I'll see you all next time guys. Tchao for now.