Ominous Flame

Chapter 30

Author Notes: Time for part two! It's time we do some serious angst. Despair and misery are my poison and so I shall let it spread...does that make sense? Probably not but in any case I do not own Digimon.

Last time on Ominious flame

There had to be something the pyromancer could cling to. "Takuya what are you-don't grab your head!" Some sort of hope. Something to keep him from losing his sanity because it felt like his head was splitting apart.

A hiss passed through his lips, his eyes stinging. "Please Bokomon...if there's anything you know please. Please...I need something. Could Cherubimon split me in two somehow? Am I really here?"

3rd P.O.V

His voice was cracking. An ugly, broken sound that he should've never made. "Why wouldn't you think you're here? What's this talk about there being two of you?" His counter questions were fair enough. Of course he wouldn't want to answer without context.

"I..." But Takuya had been holding onto this one secret for so long. He was scared to reveal it. Still, he felt a warm paw on the back of his hand, doing a soothing motion over the wrappings. It hurt a first, feeling the pressure.

But the motions soothed his turmoil...for the moment. "See? I can feel you. You're as real as me." Was he? At this point he didn't know what to think anymore. So licking his lips, he speaks. Hoping, praying that he wouldn't regret this.

Because there had to be some explanation that made sense. "In Dream Forest, after I changed back into a human for the first time I went walking. Hoping Ophanimon would contact me. When...I saw those tvs on the trees, showing images of the human world."

A small hum is heard, giving him the confirmation to continue. "I-on one of them I saw me. I was attached to medical machines and unconscious in a hospital. It looked like I was in a coma." He winced at the gasp heard, the gently petting stopping in a swift lift.

"A coma you say?" But immediately the paw picked up where it left off. Showing that Bokomon was still there, adding just a bit more pressure to convince the both of them that the human there on the bed and wrapped in bandages was the one and only Takuya.

That he truly was here. "This whole time I-still don't know what Cherubimon did, but when I stabbed myself I wasn't sure if the other me would live. That we were connected and I just wasn't his soul or something. I wanted to stop Cherubimon but-"

The reason he was alive right now was because of that split second decision. "What was he trying to do? JP said he heard him after you stabbed yourself." At least this showed he wasn't an actual hallucinating lunatic, but it didn't relieve the teen for an instant.

"He was trying to destroy my body. He somehow summoned my flames. Said he would give me a new form to destroy this world with. He didn't say specifically, but I know he was talking about my beast spirit. I was already a huge threat as Agunimon's evil counterpart-I didn't..."

A sob breaks free. His hands desperately clutching his hair as tried to quell his agony. But everything hurt, he couldn't see, and no matter what he knew that regardless of how hard he tried, Cherubimon was going to win. All that confidence and strength he had ran away with his suicide attempt.

Nothing was going right and he was at his wits end. "I didn't want to die...I didn't but I didn't know what to do. I was so angry and scared when he mentioned the others, how he has been using me and that the only reason I made it so far was because he LET me."

He had been holding onto this for so long. "You were trying to protect everyone the best you could..." He could feel snot ready to drip down his nose so he sniffed, but there was nothing he could do to stop the tears from soaking his bandages.

Something Bokomon thankfully didn't mention as he continued trying to comfort him. "I failed...even now I can feel him trying to summon my flames again. To burn me alive and destroy what makes me Me." If he did there would be no turning back.

Cherubimon gets ahold of him and that's it. He wouldn't repeat his mistakes and thoroughly make sure that he couldn't return. "I didn't want to wake up knowing he still has a hold of me. The reason I'm not healed is because I defied him. The more broken my body is-the easier it is for him to take control."

If he truly was simply the spirit or soul of his human world self...if Cherubimon destroyed him and turned him back into an evil digimon henchmen, does that means there's no chance his other self will wake up? Or if he does-would he be just as tainted?

"I shouldn't have survived..." He never wanted this to happen. "I should've-" The price of his life should not overshadow this world or the lives of his friends. "Oh Takuya..." He heard footsteps as Bokomon took his hand off.

At first he had assumed his digicompanion decided he had enough of his whining and started to leave. Only to realize as he felt someone's presence that the footsteps were walking Towards him. Arms, warm, human ones carefully surrounded him not even a moment later.

Making him stiffen. Who was it? "I'm so so sorry Takuya." He didn't want to hear this. "Don't apologize. I don't deserve it." Let alone from him of all people. "You've been holding on to all of this for a long time, and none of us noticed."

That's because he didn't want them to. He's caused more than enough issues for a lifetime. "I didn't want you to. Stop Koichi. Let me go." The tears were welling up again, and it didn't feel like they would stop if he starts.

"No. You've always supported and protected us. This time it's my turn. You don't have to fight this alone. Me and the others...we're here for you." They shouldn't be. His fingers instinctively reach for his necklace.

There more more cracks, so many in fact that there was hardly any smooth surface to be found on any part, bead, gem...all of it on the verge of breaking. "I won't be-" Immediately he shushed. Koichi's embrace just a little tighter.

Not enough to hurt but Takuya would've preferred it. Koichi and the others being angry, telling him to get lost, or die. He would take it over the trembling from the both of them. That sense of dread, that any and all future plans and promises were going.

Far quicker than any of them would've imagined. "I won't let him win Takuya. We're all going home together. No matter what whether you're in a hospital or at home with your brother I'll find you." Another pathetic, choking sob comes out.

Setting off the waterworks once and for all. "Koichi...promise me. Promise me that Cherubimon, no matter what happens to me goes down. That I won't be forced to hurt you guys." Before he had accepted the warrior of darkness's honest answer to accept his favor.

But he needed to be sure. He had to make sure that his nightmares would not become a reality. "Takuya..." Desperate fingers clenched the front of his shirt as his head laid on Koichi's shoulder. "I'd rather die than stain my hands anymore than I already have."

Though he had no regrets spiting the bastard celestial digimon for using his own damn eyes against him, he did regret not being able to see his friend's expression. To know what he was feeling. The eyes especially. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul.

So then why did no one see just how corrupt and broken Takuya was? "Rest assured Cherubimon will be stopped. But I'm not letting you go down with him. You're too important to lose." Neither were backing down.

Yet that disagreement didn't stop Koichi from keeping hold of him. "Please...hang on just a little longer Takuya. Don't give up just yet." He was so tired. So SO tired. It was taking all that he was keeping his flames from bursting through his skin.

Cherubimon was waiting for the perfect opportunity. For the single instance where Takuya broke his guard and concentration. It was a race to the finish. What would break first? Takuya, Cherubimon or Takuya's necklace? "I'm trying Koichi...but-" He's gently shushed again.

They stay in that position, eventually the tears drying into angry red streaks. There was no way to tell how long exactly. However by the time Bokomon(who had been watching the whole time with a heartbroken expression) decided to grab the others...

All of them rushing up to the second floor of the restaurant, they found their usually upbeat brunette breathing slowly and deeply. Lost to the world with Koichi holding his hand to his forehead as he prayed. Prayed that he wouldn't have to truly follow through on Takuya's request.

Before all this he thought the least he could do was take over Takuya's role as protector When he became Shagumon. Stop him and make sure the others were safe. He thought it would be so easy with his brother by his side.

Together they would do what they would always do when dealing with a strong adversary, adapt and survive. But now that he saw what the cost of being a protector was, he was afraid. Knowing that he didn't have what it takes to stand in Takuya's shoes. To do whatever it takes for the sake of the world and those in it.

The dagger felt ten times heavier in his pocket and he wished Takuya was never forced into such a position to use it. Knowing one-hundred percent that if given the option or forced into a similar situation he wouldn't hesitate to do a repeat and this time succeeding.

to be continued

Author Notes: High ho shipping people. I will sink with this ship and now I've released a geyser of concerns on top of it. We'll have to see what happens next chapter. Why? Because that is it for now.

This is sadly a shorter chapter but that's what happens when an overly long chapter gets split into parts lol. Ahem, thank you all so much for reading this story guys! If you like the story so far please feel free to fav/follow/review as it would mean so much to me. Tchao for now.