Ominous Flame

Chapter 59

Author Notes: Seeeee I knew I'd get at least one comment on the cliffhanger lol. Well...with that I think I've stalled long enough(I really haven't schools been a headache) so let's hop to it. I do not own Digimon.

Last time on Ominous Flame

Takuya was still talking, but in reality he didn't need to say anything else. "Clearly though...that seemed to have been a mistake according to a certain bandana wearing bastard." Koichi covered his mouth. He had tried to contain his chuckles, but he couldn't.

"In the end Koichi, there are many regrets I have. Many things I wish I hadn't done. At the very top has been hurting you. But if it meant you going home with your brother, happy and healthy-I'd do it a hundred times over. Not once have I ever regretted loving you." He said it. He actually said IT.

3rd P.O.V

Now...he had to finish it. "The ball's on the field, Koichi...it's your play as far as where things go from here." Koichi raised an eyebrow at that, making Takuya rub the back of his crimson bloomed neck. "It's a soccer thing. You're calling the shots, Koichi. If you don't like me back that way-then it's fine."

Those words came out pretty easily all things considered. They rushed out like a geyser that overspilled from its opening, but they were clear and sincere. Just like everything else he's said so far. He had been holding onto the assumption he'd be rejected no matter what. That wasn't a problem, his motor mouth was.

"If you do Lo-like me back, then cool. Though we'd probably have to hold off any dates till after we saved the world." Koichi rolled his tear glossed eyes, shaking his head with a laugh. It shouldn't have been a surprise to hear such an optimistic spin on their situation, but it was.

This was the most light hearted he's heard from Takuya in a long time. Though...thinking back, this was always how it happened wasn't it? Every time things seemed grim, or there was an uncomfortable topic, the pyro always seemed to make it less daunting or painful.

Even now he was laughing off the possibility that Koichi, despite Koji telling him otherwise, wouldn't like him back. "May I give my response?" Takuya nodded, steeling himself as he stared at him. Honestly it was a little ridiculous.

With another eyeroll, Koichi raised his arms, spreading them wide, asking for a silent hug. There was a slight hesitance, but Takuya crawled over. Right before Takuya went into Koichi's embrace, he was instead pulled in, his lips smashed right against his captor.

It took one minute for realization to dawn, but he closed his eyes right after, accepting and even deepening the kiss. All too soon, the pair broke for air. "I love you Takuya, I've had for ages, but wasn't ready to accept it until now. I've never fallen in love before..." That...explained so much.

Takuya palmed his eyes, keeping himself from laughing outright. Able to connect the dots to the picture that he was starting to see. "Let me guess...your brother got sick of us walking on eggshells and had you think about it."

His confirmation came with a nod. "Exactly. After what I heard last night I needed to confess. I've been over thinking, and panicking for so long...I kept promising myself after a close call that I would talk to you-but I kept back peddaling. I've nearly lost you twice...and now-" He was stumbling.

Despite trying to memorize the speech he had planned for this specific topic, he was screwing it up. Immediately he was pulled into a gentle embrace, the hug that was originally promised. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say you like me back." They broke apart, and Takuya smiled.

For an instant it was as bright as the sun, as warm as the flames he creates. But then it dimmed, he raised his hand, summoning a small swirl of purple and orange fire shaped like butterflies. They fluttered all around them, entrapping them in a tornado of burning wings.

"Are you sure this is what you want, Koichi? I don't doubt you-don't give me that look, please!? I'm just saying...chances are, I-I may not be here, you know? That I may be hospitalized or or-" He was cut off with Koichi pulling him back into a hug.

As much as he didn't want to admit it, Takuya made a valid point (it was still rude and killed a bit of his happy buzz. Something he didn't need or want, thank you very much.) "I don't plan on stopping my feelings now after bottling them for so long." They rested their heads against one another.

A smile still graced Koichi's face. "Whether comatose, handicapped or well...gone, I have no intentions of leaving you Takuya. If by some cruel fate you are dead, well...all the more reason for me to be with you now. For me to express my feelings without shame or worry. I love you."

He saw Takuya sniffle, hiding himself into the crook of the dark elemental's neck. "Thank you Koichi." Soft lips pressed against his neck. Making his pale complexion flush right alongside his tanned companion's.

XxxXxXxXxXxXXxXxXxXX

"Hi! I'm Patamon~" Days passed, Koichi was the first to officially recover from his illness. Which meant more hands to help their still feeble friends. "Nice to meet you." Which also meant the others were cared for better, making them recover faster.

Much to Takuya's relief, everyone, bit by bit found their strength returning, along with their appetites. They slept less, their too pale skin tone found some much needed color, all good signs. "Glad to see we finally got introductions out of the way. Even more that all of you are better now."

The only one that was still feeling a bit off was, of course, Koji. He still sniffled with a stuffed up nose and moments of fatigue, but even that was passing. "I'm just glad shit finally got settled between Takuya and my brother. That was annoying." Bokomon theorized that he suffered the most due to his element.

Because Cherubimon had hit them all with waves of his overwhelming dark magic, their bodies with their own specified elements, fought off the effects, which led to their fevers. Takuya, who was still under the celestial digimon's influence was the least effected, followed by Koichi, who harnessed darkness.

"Wait settled? What do you mean?" Alls well that ends well...if one could ignore the still horrifically damaged sky up above, and the oppressive air that circulated around them. Considering the current topic of conversation, now being led by a confused JP, ignoring the problems was actually doable.

Especially for the couple in question who both blushed, causing Zoe to shriek. "So I WAS right. Molto bene!" Tommy tilted his head, still slightly confused, however realization was starting to dawn on him. "Right about what, Z? What happened between Takuya and Koichi?"

Clearing his throat, Takuya simply interlaced his hand with his partner's. With Koichi, somehow, boldly planting a kiss to their locked fingers. Further deepening the pyro's blush on top of encouraging Zoe's happy squeals.

"Congrats you guys!" Of course Tommy was a-ok with it, not having been taught otherwise. His friends were happy, so he was happy. For JP...it took a few seconds to fully recognize what he just saw. "Wait wait-you guys are together? Like, together together!? WHAT!?" Koji snorted at his reaction.

Probably the least reactive of the bunch, simply wearing a smug ass grin. "The two of them had been dancing around it for ages, dude. Catch up." Within a week or two, the warrior of light will probably complain about the lovey dovey shit the new couple will be showing off in public...

Give him a few days instead of a week for him to complain...but for now he was content. "So...Takuya isn't interested in Zoe?" At that everyone turned to JP, the couple in question were specifically giving him looks of annoyed disbelief.

"No! With no offense at all to Zoe...I don't like her that way. I'm into guys, JP. I'm dating Koichi." The last part was said in a slightly unconfident whisper, an improvement in Koichi's eyes. Since there were no stutters at all, and well...he was still holding Koichi's hand.

Takuya's palms were sweaty, he was definitely nervous...but he still said it. Keeping his gaze firmly on JP, who groaned while scratching his head. "Why couldn't you have told me that from the getgo!? I wouldn't have been such an ass to you!"

At that Takuya sighed, blasting a heaping rush of air from his nose. "Are you serious right now?" While the two boys bickered, Koichi shifted his attention to Tommy. Minus the small congrats he gave the pair, he had been quiet.

Something that bothered him. "Tommy, are you ok with this?" The boy thankfully was pretty close to them, making it a lot easier to whisper to him with all the chaos going around. Much to Koichi's relief, the hat wearing warrior nodded with a smile.

"Yeah. If you guys like each other, then you like each other right? I'm just...hoping this means Takuya won't..." There were many ways to end that sentence. Won't do something dangerous, won't keep anymore secrets...won't die when this war is over.

Despite the happy occasion, there were still major troubles looming over the horizon. "Takuya promised he'd do better." Tommy's mouth twitched for a second, amused with a bitter tinge. "Takuya makes lots of promises..." The implied, 'and he breaks them' was not missed by the ravenette.

He of all people understood his friend's concerns. To an extent he still had it. "I think he's going to keep this one." But that had nothing to do with his doubt for Takuya. "Really?" Rather it was due to his own anxiety and paranoia that was the cause of it.

"Yeah. Even if he doesn't...I'll be right there to steer him straight." The tension left the ice elemental's shoulders immediately left, his eyes brightened up considerably. "Cool! Now we gotta plan all the fun things when we get home and meet Shinya!" There was so much to worry about...but for now, they earned a well deserved break.

to be continued

Author Notes: There-you can put down the pitchforks now haha. Things are finally moving up on the up-sorry JP I still don't think you're dating Zoe but there, no more love rival over the wind warrior.

With that though, I of course have to ruin that next chapter because yes-plot. Still, i'm content. Guys as always thank you for reading. Feel free to fav/follow/review if you like the series so far and I'll see you next time. Tchao for now.