Disclaimer: The muses would like to remind everyone that Angel Spirit doesn't own Digimon, just the plot of the fic.

Author's Notes: Muahahahaha, so here's the much anticipated update for Different Journey's that everyone wanted! Major thank you to Sailor Epyon for beta reading this, as always, you're wonderful! I'm so not going to say much here, except to warn people of the weirdness in this chapter! Remember, that Takuya, Kouji, and Tomoki are still in the Nightmare Island ordeal, and it's a place where anything and everything can happen…but don't worry, the WTMN saga is coming to a close and we'll get back on track with what's been going on while they've been stuck on Nightmare Island…but first, back to our bishies, ne? (When I say 'weird', I mean "Twilight Zone" weirdness going on…but maybe it's just me…meh, I still had fun writing this chapter anyway and you guys will see what I mean when you read it…((gulps nervously and crawls under her rock)) )

Rating: PG13

Warning: This fic contains slash/yaoi…if you're not a fan of male/male pairings or any of the pairings listed below, then I suggest that you hit the wonderful back button at the top left of your page there and run far, far away. Don't say you haven't been for warned.

Pairings: Takuya/Kouji and strong Izumi/Junpei hints

Time Setting 100 AU; rewrite of season 04 with Takoujiness abound…ages of the Digi Destined are mentioned in the beginning chapters of the fic if one is curious.

Different Journey's

Author: Angel Spirit

Chapter 25: Welcome to my nightmare part V: Bittersweet Denial

The constant sound of beeping stirred Kouji into consciousness, and he had to blink a few times to focus his blurred vision, as he wondered where he was.

He took in a slight breath, and then coughed at the strong smell of cleaning solution mixed in with other chemicals, and it helped him wake up a bit further, and become more awake.

When Kouji saw that he was in the hospital, he panicked...his head immediately darting back and forth as his dark, blue-gray eyes filled with intense worry, as he tried to figure out how he'd gotten here from the Digital World…and where was Takuya?

Thinking of the missing brunette caused Kouji's panic to heighten, and he pushed the hospital's flimsy blankets and covers off of him.

What if it was all a dream? Did I fall into a coma or something and dream it all…if the Digital World isn't real, then what about Takuya? Kouji's thoughts were frantic, and he realized he had to get out of here.

The door to his room opened, and he gasped as a man in a white coat came in, his nametag reading Dr. Howard, and Kouji made a face without having meant to. He wasn't a big fan of doctors…and needles were his number one enemy, and he associated doctors with needles, so that made doctors his number one enemy, as well.

"Mr. Minamoto, so good of you to join us in the land of the living…I'm sure your father will be most relieved to see that you're awake and moving." The doctor said, as he ushered Kouji back into bed and checked over his vital signs, and any other important stuff that he needed to do. But Kouji's mind was only focused on one thing.

"Takuya…is Takuya here?" The doctor rose an eyebrow, and he shook his head as he got out a miniature flashlight, and Kouji backed up as far as he could in his bed, but he was trapped and had no choice, but to let the doctor shine the light into his eyes-no doubt to determine if he had a concussion or something.

"No Mr. Minamoto, there's no one here by the name of Takuya…you must've hit your head pretty hard when you fell down those stairs…your father's been frantic with worry." This time, it was Kouji who rose an eyebrow, as he tried to figure out what the doctor was saying, as he tried to piece together what was going on…that was before the doctor had reached over to the end of his bed, to grab a clipboard that was nestled in a tray there.

As Kouji watched the doctor scribble something unreadable (at least, he couldn't read it) onto what Kouji presumed had to be his medical chart, his dark, blue-gray eyes opened wide when he saw the date.

October 15, 1993? That's not right…it's 2003…

Kouji's mind raced to think of why the doctor's clipboard had said 1993…and he opened his mouth to object to the date, but immediately snapped it shut. The doctor had already looked at him like he was crazy when he'd asked about Takuya…

So is this a memory or something? Kouji thought, trying to piece together missing puzzle pieces that just didn't seem to want to appear.

Finally, the doctor finished his writing, and put Kouji's chart back into its tray.

"I'll go let your father know that you're awake and moving…he'll be glad to hear it." Doctor Howard declared, as he left the room, and the moment the door was closed behind him, Kouji leapt for his medical chart as he read through it, his heart hammering while he did so.

The injuries listed there were all the same, as he had gotten that one horrible night when his father had come home too drunk to give a damn about anything…

And Kouji shuddered at the thought, wondering why in the hell he was here now…this wasn't a nightmare…unless if Doctor Howard was going to come back and torture him with needles or something, then maybe that would count as a nightmare, but somehow Kouji doubted that that was likely to happen.

Knowing now that he was stuck in some kind of warped dream world, Kouji managed to get out of bed and was shocked to see that he did have the same injuries from that awful night…his left wrist was wrapped heavily in ace bandages, and splinted to keep him from moving it too much. He knew he had tons of bruises all over his body, and that there were stitches covered by gauze and tape above his right eyebrow…his lower lip felt cracked and torn where his father had punched him…

Kouji shuddered again, not wanting to continue thinking about the 'light' injuries he'd sustained from his 'trip down the staircase.' His father had made the awful excuse for him, that he'd been a klutz and had fallen down the staircase…not wanting anyone to know that he could possibly harm a child, when in all reality his father had been the one who had tossed him down the stairs-only after getting in a few punches of his own, beforehand.

It made Kouji not want to see his father right then.

So he snuck out, and after making sure that the coast was clear in the hallway, he made a right to avoid the nurse's station, that he knew was down at the end of the hallway he was avoiding.

A part of him actually remembered doing this…he'd tried to forget everything about that night, and the next few days he'd spent recovering…trying to stay as far away from his father as he possibly could, lest he'd get anymore injuries to add onto the ones he already had. He remembered that when he'd gotten home with his father, that he had to wait until night to retrieve his pain medication for his wrist from his father's coat pocket, because his he wouldn't give them to him…telling him that he needed to toughen up, that he was a weakling for wanting the pain killers in the first place.

Of course it had also helped that his father had been called into work for the night, and that he'd accidentally grabbed a different coat than the one he'd worn, when he'd gone to pick up Kouji's medication.

But that was in the past…

So why in the hell was he reliving it now? He didn't want to remember it…

But apparently, someone did want him to remember it.

Deciding to go along with the flow (as much as he hated doing so), Kouji continued along the hallway, determined to stay away from his father, as long as he possibly could.

A sense of Déjà vu filled him as he remembered that the ICU ward was somewhere along this corridor…and a small voice in the back of his mind told him to keep on going.

When he did, he was surprised at what he found…

Actually, it was more like who he found.

Takuya was standing in front of one of the windows that looked into an ICU ward, a look of pure sorrow etched into his face, and Kouji found his heart going out to his koi. With soft footsteps, Kouji managed to make it to Takuya's side in just a few minutes, and he glanced into the window that Takuya was looking into with teary eyes.

A woman lay on the bed within, unconscious and hooked up to many machines. As Kouji glanced from the woman in the ICU room to Takuya, he noticed that Takuya looked a lot like her and he wondered if she was his mother. From the distressed look on his koi's face, Kouji assumed so.

"Is that your mother?" He asked softly, and Takuya nodded-looking like he was trying to hold back tears.

Kouji gasped suddenly, as he blinked for a moment, and saw a much younger looking Takuya, rubbing a fist over his eyes to clear the tears away…and then Kouji blinked again and Takuya was back to being his fourteen-year old self.

Shaking his head to clear it, as Kouji wondered what in the hell was going on, he continued to look into the ICU room…until someone came up to them, and Kouji almost felt like he had to hide behind Takuya, lest he got caught and had to be sent back to his room like a naughty little child.

The person who came up to them, looked strangely like Takuya, also. He had really dark, brown hair that was tied in a ponytail like his own hair, but the man's hair was a bit shorter than his, and a little more on the curly side, too. Takuya had the man's eyes, and they were as dark as his hair, holding a kind expression in them. Kouji wasn't sure what it was, but there was something about this man that made him trust him completely.

The man chuckled and knelt down to Takuya and Kouji could suddenly see that Takuya as ten years old, again.

"I see you've made a friend already, Takuya." Takuya shrugged, and glanced behind him at where Kouji now stood.

"Not really papa, I just met him." Kouji's dark, blue-gray eyes opened wide and he opened his mouth to object…before closing it again. The doctor had already looked at him like he was nuts, once…

So it looked like Kouji needed to play along. He wondered, if he could see Takuya as ten years old, if that was how Takuya's father saw him now…as an injured ten-year-old boy…

From the look on Mr. Kanbara's face, as he chuckled softly, he probably did.

Okayyy…this is now officially freaky. I'm a fifteen-year old stuck in my ten-year old self…someone up there must really hate me right now. Kouji thought, deciding that it would be best to play along. It still felt like Déjà vu to him though…why did it feel like this had all happened, already? He felt really confused…

But he started suddenly when Mr. Kanbara knelt and lowered himself to his level, so that they saw each other eye to eye.

"Looks like you got banged up a little bit." Mr. Kanbara mused, and Kouji ducked his head, so that he was no longer staring into the dark eyes that belonged to Takuya's father.

"I…I just fell down some stairs, that's all." Kouji murmured, and from the look that Takuya's father was giving him, he had the feeling that the older man didn't believe him. It made Kouji wonder if Takuya's father was a lawyer or something…either that, or he was just being a horribly bad liar.

"Papa, how long will it be before Mama wakes up?" Takuya asked, and his father turned around to face him with a sad smile on his face.

"I'm not sure, Takuya…the doctor said it might take some time…mommy was hurt pretty badly." Mr. Kanbara explained in the most comforting voice he could manage, as he stood and gently ruffled Takuya's slightly curly, brown hair.

"I'm going to go and check on your mom, okay kiddo?" Takuya nodded, watching as his father smiled sadly at him, before turning around and heading into the room his mother was in. Takuya once more turned to face the window, completely ignoring Kouji…and suddenly Takuya was his fourteen-year old self…

Dare Kouji believe that he was his fifteen-year old self? This was just too random…it was like he was living in the present, and yet, the present kept on going into flashbacks or something…

"Mom…mom was pregnant with my baby sister…" Takuya took a deep breath, and leaned his forehead and right arm up against the glass, as he continued.

"I had had a soccer game…one that determined if my team was going to the championships or not, and I'd begged my dad to come with me, even though he was supposed to hang around home and take care of my mother, when the live-in nurse wasn't there. But I threw a huge temper tantrum and my dad gave in and took me." This time Takuya swallowed looking very guilty as he continued to look into the ICU room, trying to hold back tears of sadness and regret.

"Dad got a phone call halfway through the game…mom had gone into labor early and scared Shinya half to death…she'd made him go next door and have them call 911…the hospital called dad…we ended up leaving the game early, and I never did find out who won…I didn't really care, anyway. All I cared about was that my mom was in trouble. My mom ended up losing the baby that day…they found out it would've been a girl, I would've had a baby sister…but I'd been stupid and…and selfish…and…" This time, the tears came, and Takuya lowered his head so that Kouji couldn't see them.

But what Kouji said next, caused Takuya's head to jerk upright so that he was finally staring into his dark, blue-gray eyes, a look of astonishment crossing his features.

"Baka." Takuya frowned as he continued to look at Kouji's eyes, and opened his mouth to say something in reply, but Kouji shook his head.

"Don't…don't say one word. Your mother survived this, right?" Not finding the right words to answer Kouji's question with, Takuya nodded mutely.

"You get to still spend time with her every day; you still get hugs and kisses from her, and she tells you that she loves you and you get to hear her say good night to you before you go to bed at night, right? You got to be tucked into bed as a little kid by her, you got bed time stories read, scrapes and cuts mended and kissed to make all better by her…right?" Again, Takuya nodded, wondering where Kouji was going with this.

"Then you're lucky, Takuya. I don't have a mom…I've got Satomi, and she's my stepmother now…but that doesn't really count. She's not my real mother…I never got any of that growing up, Takuya…what did I get? I got a father who drunk his misery away, who liked to use me as a punching bag whenever he could…until he realized one night, that he went too far with me…and landed me in the hospital…again. It happened shortly after this episode…Takuya, I didn't fall down the stairs like my dad told the nurses and doctors when he brought me in, he beat me…and then he threw me down the stairs." As Kouji found himself admitting this, he felt a hurtful anger stir deep inside…he hadn't felt it in quite awhile, not since his father had gone to rehab and met Satomi…one of the volunteers at the hospital. They'd started dating, and that had been what had really gotten his father to kick the drinking habit…falling in love.

He hadn't done it for his son…no…Kousei Minamoto had gotten better, because he'd fallen in love with a woman and had wanted to make himself a better man for her. That was one of the reasons, to this day, why Kouji hated Satomi's guts.

Kouji felt a gentle hand on his shoulder, and he glanced up-startled-to find Takuya looking at him with a haunting look in his eyes.

"I guess we both still have our demons that we have fought along the way, and are still fighting to this day, huh?" Takuya whispered, and Kouji nodded as they turned to look into the ICU room that belonged to Yuriko Kanbara, one more time.

"Be glad that you've still got her, Takuya…I'd give anything to have my real mother back…anything. I hardly knew her when I lost her." With that, Kouji closed his eyes; suddenly feeling tired and Takuya looked at him in concern.

"Are you okay?" Takuya asked, and Kouji nodded a weary smile on his face, as he opened his eyes again and looked directly into Takuya's dark, brown ones. Takuya blinked at the sudden change of emotion in Kouji's eyes…they were different now, more serious.

"Yeah, I'm okay…the question is, though, are you okay?" Kouji replied, and Takuya managed to nod.

Something seemed to change…Kouji could practically feel it in the atmosphere, and he shivered slightly as he glanced over at Takuya, who suddenly blinked and stared around him…it was almost as though Takuya couldn't really remember what he was doing here in the hospital in the first place.

"Takuya, are you sure you're really okay?" Kouji asked once more, his voice soft and Takuya turned to look at him-a look of surprise clearly showing on his face, as though he hadn't expected Kouji to be there, and Kouji frowned as Takuya nodded again at Kouji's question.

"Yeah…I…think I am...now…thanks." The brunette murmured, and Kouji's frown of concern was immediately replaced by a soft smile.

However, his smile suddenly vanished as the surroundings of Shibuya General started to shimmer around them, and slowly faded into nothingness. Takuya was startled, feeling like he was trapped between a dream and reality…

And in truth, he was.

Everything was starting to disappear, but Kouji and him…but even Kouji was starting to look a little distant…like he really wasn't there.

"Takuya…you need to wake up…now!" Those were Kouji's last words before he disappeared completely, along with everything else…and Takuya found himself falling into nothingness…screaming as he did so.

Bolting awake a minute later, Takuya tried to even out his breathing, as he glanced around at his surroundings and sighed with irritation. He was still trapped in the horrible darkness that he'd been trapped in for the past few days, but this time, things were different. This time, when he woke, there was someone else with him…and he wasn't alone. He was still on the ground, though this time; someone was behind him-dragging him along-he felt their left arm along his chest, as they scrambled backwards with their legs and right arm.

Directly behind him, Kouji's breath came out in pants of fear and Takuya-still gaining his bearings-glanced over his shoulder at his koi…and was surprised to see that Kouji was afraid. His face was pale, and his dark hair was damp with sweat-somewhere along the way, Kouji had lost his windbreaker and his bandanna was starting to fall off. In all honesty, his koi was a mess.

"Kouji, wha-?" But Takuya didn't even get to finish his sentence, as Kouji pointed a finger in the direction in front of them and Takuya turned to see what it was Kouji had been trying to get them away from…and his dark, brown eyes opened wide in a mix of surprise and horror.

"What is that?" Takuya asked suddenly, feeling the same panic Kouji was, and Kouji shook his head, his breathing starting to come out ragged.

"I…don't know…it started to come after us shortly after I was dumped here with you…you were pretty out of it when I got here, and I'm not feeling so hot, myself…and that damned thing is determined to get us…" Kouji muttered, and when Takuya turned his head again, he saw the truth in Kouji's words.

It didn't look like Kouji would be able to stay awake for too much longer.

"Yeah, well two can play at this game of determination, as I'm determined to get us the hell out of here!" Takuya declared, now fully awake, alert, and ready for anything. Up ahead, the beast-like Digimon growled, its growl turning into a loud roar, and Takuya winced as the roar caused a wind to blow in their direction. But not before he waved a hand in front of his face, grimacing.

"Phew…someone needs breath mints or something!" The goggle-head suggested, sweat-dropping as the beast Digimon roared again at his comment. Deciding that it was truly time to get out of there, Takuya managed to surge into a standing position, bringing Kouji up along with him, since his koi still had his arm around his chest.

Quickly making it so that Kouji was riding on his back, Takuya took off in a run…fumbling to bring his detector out of one of the pockets in his cargo pants, as he debated about whether or not he should digi-volve with how weak Kouji was. And Takuya knew that Kouji was weak, too…Kouji hadn't even fought him when he'd kept him on his back, and normally that wasn't his koi's style.

A quick glance behind him, allowed Takuya to see that Kouji was asleep…be it by choice or by his body's sudden demand, Takuya wasn't sure, and he growled softly under his breath as he continued to run, while he heard the beast-Digimon continue to come after them.

He hadn't seen Kouji in days…and his koi looked like he'd been through hell and back again on a round trip.

I'm never letting Kouji out of my sight ever again! Takuya decided, and gasped as he accidentally tripped over his own two feet, and sent the two of them sprawling. Takuya managed to grab a hold of Kouji's arm, though, before he rolled too far away.

The beast-Digimon, who was still coming after them, took Takuya's stumble to his advantage, and roared as he gained up on them-and was soon towering over them.

"Nice beastie…good beastie…" Takuya muttered, as he managed to bring Kouji up enough, so that he could swing him into his arms as he now carried him bridal style, backing up as quickly as he could to get away from whatever Digimon was chasing them. As if on cue, his detector went off, telling Takuya exactly what was in front of him.

"KoryIkkakumon is a beast type Digimon, he is evolved from Kumamon." Dark brown eyes opened wide as the detector announced this, and Takuya cursed softly under his breath.

"So you're telling me that that thing in front of us, that's giving us a stare down, is Tomoki?" Takuya yelped, and he could've sworn that if the detector could, it would've nodded in confirmation. Instead, it only chirped an "affirmative," before going quiet once more…and Takuya cursed it as well.

"Tomoki…heya buddy…remember me? You don't want to hurt me, right?" The brunette coaxed with as much bravado as he could muster, while he adjusted Kouji's limp weight in his arms. Kouji groaned softly, but otherwise then that, he remained quiet and still.

You especially don't want to hurt me with Kouji like this…c'mon Tomoki…I know you're in there somewhere! Help me out, little buddy…Takuya silently pleaded, as he continued to have a stare down with KoryIkkakumon, wondering how in the hell he was going to get Kouji and himself out of this mess. In his arms, Kouji stirred briefly and groaned again, with beads of sweat forming on his forehead, and Takuya hoped that Kouji wasn't going through a nightmare.

Now is so not the time, Kouji…I need you here with me! Again, Takuya silently pleaded, but he knew he wouldn't get an answer. He only had two choices, as far as he could see, and neither of them were really the best to choose from in this situation. One of them was to digi-volve and turn himself into Agnimon and see if he couldn't knock some sense into Tomoki. But in order to do that, he'd have to put Kouji down and leave him unprotected…and there was no way that Takuya was willing to do that. Not now…

So that left his only other option, which was running…as fast and far away as he could possibly go…

Takuya chose the latter choice.

BREAK

"My friends are still back there…" Izumi murmured, a part of her resisting Duskmon, a much, stronger part of her wanting to go with him and finally be able to see the sunlight…or the moons and stars…whatever time of day or night it was. It would be better than seeing nothing but darkness.

All Duskmon did was grunt and continue to pull her along, dragging her like she was some kind of child.

"I want to go back and help them!" The blonde cried, suddenly gaining courage, as she dug her heels into the ground and tried to refuse to go any further. Tried, because the moment that Duskmon seemed to sense that she was resisting him, he tightened his grip on her wrist and used it to swing her up…so that he was now carrying her over his shoulder.

Izumi blushed furiously…then she retaliated by hitting his backside with her fists.

"You let me go! You hear me; you let...me…go!" Each of the last three words Izumi cried out were emphasized with a hit, but either Duskmon was acting like he had gone deaf, or he just truly didn't care what Izumi wanted.

Izumi had the sneaky suspicion that it was the later suggestion, and not the first one…she had the feeling that Duskmon didn't really care what it was she wanted…and she glowered and fought a moan of embarrassment at the predicament she was in. This was not what she wanted…she didn't want to be over the shoulder of a strange Digimon who she hardly even knew…and wasn't sure if she trusted.

The situation was not in her favor.

If you hadn't tried to resist him, you wouldn't be where you are now…A sly voice in the back of Izumi's mind lightly scolded her, and Izumi mentally snarled at it to go away.

"You wanted me to take you out of the darkness, so I am…you should remember that I've also rescued your friend Junpei as well, and he's waiting for you where I left him. Be thankful I'm doing this much…I didn't have to do anything to help you at all. I could've left you lost in that darkness…and then where would you be?" Duskmon finally spoke, and when he did, Izumi only glowered some more at the question that he'd asked her when she realized that he was completely right. She had agreed to go with him…

So why was it that she was starting to really not trust Duskmon?

Womanly intuition, maybe…? Or maybe it was because he spoke so little, so Izumi hardly knew who he was…the only thing Izumi knew for sure, was that Duskmon had just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Coincidence…?

Izumi suddenly thought not. But she kept the thought to herself…she'd wait until

she was with Junpei, and then they'd discuss her thoughts on Duskmon in private. It was obviously apparent from Duskmon's whole persona that he had to be a dark Digimon. So why on earth was a dark Digimon helping them instead of trying to hurt them, or steal their spirits like all the other dark Digimon they'd run into so far?

He's up to something…but what is it? Izumi thought, lifting her head enough so that she could see the darkness they were leaving behind…she felt a sudden chill go through her, and she shook her head at it.

Why do I have the horrible feeling that Takuya and Kouji are in danger…and that this creepy jerk has something to do with it…is that why he's taking me out of the darkness? Is he trying to get Junpei and myself away from the others, so we can't help our friends since we'd be stronger, because we've been through our nightmares already? That last thought, almost caused her to gasp, and Izumi had to bite down hard on her lower lip to keep her thoughts to herself. She didn't want to let Duskmon know, in any way, that he suspected him of anything...not yet, anyway.

A plan slowly started to form in her mind…all she had to do now, was wait until they got to Junpei…

BREAK

Takuya had to stop…he had to rest. He couldn't remember how long that he had been running with Kouji in his arms, but the feeling in his arms were starting to grow numb…and he knew his body was trying to tell him that it was time to stop for awhile, too.

Slowing down to a stop, Takuya paused and listened to the darkness around him.

The only thing he could hear was his own harsh breathing…it sounded like he'd lost KoryIkkakumon…for now, anyway. But there was no telling when Tomoki's beast spirit would find them again.

We need to find a way out of this darkness…Takuya thought, as he sank down to his knees and dropped Kouji enough, so that his unconscious form was leaning up against his knees to give his arms a rest.

Shaking the feeling back into his arms, Takuya winced as feeling started to return, making his arms feel like they were getting pricked by needles a thousand times over or something…but he still continued to think of a plan. He had the feeling that the only way out of here, would be to digi-volve into his Beast Spirit form and somehow get Tomoki to gain control of his beast spirit, so that Tomoki would remember who he and Kouji were…and would stop going after them and help them, instead.

While Takuya really wasn't looking forward to fighting against KoryIkkakumon by himself, it looked like he wouldn't really have much of a choice…Kouji couldn't fight, not in the state that his koi was in.

Smiling softly, Takuya gently brushed back a few strands of dark hair that had fallen into Kouji's face and Takuya sighed.

"We keep on getting ourselves into these messes, huh? It seems like every time we let each other out of our sight, we always find our way back to each other, banged up even more than before…" Again Takuya sighed and shook his head as he managed to stretch his arms, wincing as he felt the muscles pop while he did so, before bringing them down again, and reaching back with his right hand to gently massage his neck.

When Kouji started to stir, Takuya instantly paused in his one handed massage and brought the hand down to gently cup the side of Kouji's face, instead.

"You with me here, koi?" Takuya murmured, and Kouji groaned again before his dark, blue-gray eyes flickered open, and he found himself staring up at Takuya.

"Yeah…for the moment…" Kouji responded back, almost so softly that Takuya didn't hear him. But the brunette grinned as Kouji awoke a little further, and he bent over to gently kiss him-hoping that the kiss would wake him a bit further. Kouji moaned happily, and kissed Takuya back, deepening it. Soon, all that mattered was their kiss that they were involved in…it was like the darkness wasn't there-as though the darkness was the least of their worries.

Takuya growled softly as they had to break away from the kiss long enough for some air, before he started kissing Kouji again. Kouji didn't stop him; he only reached up and placed his arms around Takuya's shoulders, locking his hands together behind Takuya's neck.

"I would so like to get into your pants, now…" Takuya muttered, and Kouji blushed a bright red as he laughed-breaking the kiss-and settled for burying his head into Takuya's right shoulder, instead.

"Yeah, I bet you'd like that now, wouldn't you?" The dark haired teen lightly teased, and again Takuya let out a low, frustrated growl.

"Damn it…yes. But…" Takuya wasn't able to finish off his sentence, because someone else did it for him.

"This isn't the time or the place. Now I suggest if you boys want to somehow survive being hunted by the Beast Spirit that's after you, you'll follow me." Both teens' heads jerked up, and Takuya's dark, brown eyes widened and his face paled at the thought that someone else had been watching Kouji's and his tiny make-out session, while Kouji's earlier blush deepened some more, until he felt warm in the face from sheer embarrassment.

"Dirty little hentai…" Kouji muttered underneath his breath, indicating the comment towards the girl who now stood in front of them, and Takuya smirked, knowing that she hadn't heard it…and that it had been meant for his ears only.

"Call me what you want, but like I said, unless you follow me…you're data bait." Both boys raised their eyebrows at this, as Takuya stood and offered Kouji a hand up, one that Kouji gratefully accepted as he stood and leaned against him.

"You okay to walk, or do you want me to carry you?" Takuya murmured, and Kouji shrugged.

"I think I'm okay with walking…I'm sure that I'll let you know if that changes, though." Kouji replied back in a soft voice, and Takuya nodded as he stayed close to Kouji, while they looked up at the girl who stood in front of them…

And Takuya's eyes opened wide with shock, and a glance over at Kouji told him that Kouji must've been thinking the same thing that he was.

"Takuya…unless I'm seeing things…she looks like a female version of you…please tell me that I'm seeing things." Kouji muttered underneath his breath, but Takuya could only shake his head as he continued to stare at the girl in front of them.

"Nope…sorry Kouji…I'm seeing exactly what you're seeing…and it's kind of freakin' me out." Indeed, as Takuya continued to look at the girl in front of him, Takuya was freaking out…she was petite and slender, her dark, brown hair was slightly curly like his own, and it fell a little past her shoulders. But what really got Takuya and Kouji were her facial features that resembled Takuya's so greatly…it was almost like looking in a mirror…almost, except the girl's face looked quite a bit younger-and more feminine, of course. She had on a white, flowing dress that had only one shoulder strap over her right shoulder; a strand of pearls were around her waist, tied loosely in a knot, as though it were like some kind of sash. Her feet were bare and her skin was pale. She looked to be quite a bit younger than them…a mere child stuck in the same darkness that they were trapped in.

"You two must come with me, Takuya, please trust me…please." The girl called out, beckoning them to go with her.

The two teens paused and looked at each other, as though silently asking each other if they should trust her to lead them out of the darkness, to lead them to what would hopefully be someplace safe.

Their question was answered for them, though, when the loud roar of KoryIkkakumon could be heard from a nearby distance-it sounded like he'd gained on them during their small break.

Both Takuya and Kouji nodded at each other, determination filling their eyes as they decided that the only way they were going to get out of this situation was to follow the girl. They'd trust her…for now…and then when they had the time, they'd ask her who she really was…and why in the world she looked so much like Takuya. There had to be a catch-they just weren't seeing it. To Kouji, it felt like there were a lot of loose ends that needed to be tied up-from Takuya's nightmarish past to his own, it somehow felt like it was all connected.

"If you're going to come, then I suggest you follow, now." The mysterious girl hissed out, and Takuya grabbed Kouji's hand as the two started running after her…

Right as KoryIkkakumon came bounding towards them through the darkness, his axe held high for a direct attack…

TBC

Quick End Note: ((grins mischievously)) so can anyone guess who the mysterious little girl is?