Alright! First real chapter up :) please rate and review, and especially critique. I could use feedback on how to characterize Koji and Koichi. Also, sorry the paragraphs aren't indented, I type this on mobile and so can't indent. :/ Enjoy! :D
Day of Lucemon's Defeat
Ooh... my head hurts. No, everything hurts. What happened? Am I dead? No, dead people don't feel pain. But if I'm not dead, then where am I? It's dark... Takuya? J.P? Anyone?
Human World-One Week
Koichi Kimura walked down the street on his way home from school. Passing a television store, he paused to watch the news. It was yet more on his "missing" brother. Right now it showed his tearful father having an interview, begging the public to "find my son!" Koichi frowned angrily and walked on, scuffing his shoe on the ground. Sure, his father was worried, but what about him? Takuya and the others, after finding him in the hospital, had told him everything, and together they had sworn to reveal nothing about the digital world or Koji's whereabouts. If Koji was still alive, he'd find them. When Koji had been confirmed missing, it had been incredibly hard to keep quiet. Especially when his mom got back in contact with his father to search. His father. Although Koichi no longer hated Koji, he bore a deep-seated grudge towards his father. Why had he abandoned his mother to live like she did? It wasn't fair! And then there was the talk he'd had with his parents the night the search began, when he'd had to pretend to be surprised. It hurt deeply.
Digital World-5 years
I can see now. That's good. I'm not sure how I got my vision back, but I did. I think I might be a ghost... or something. I can walk through objects, and when I try and pick something up my hand just passes through... if you can call it a hand. I dunno what it looks like, I can't see it. Or any of me. It's just there. The digital world is kinda barren right now... but every year I see new trees springing up. There's a spot in a small forest where a bunch of digieggs are lying. I think it's a Village of New Beginnings of sorts.
Human World-1 month
Searches were getting more desperate, police were starting to think Koji was dead. He's not dead! Koichi wanted to scream, in part to convince himself. But Takuya had told him about the time rift, and if Koji was alive to begin with he'd have to have died of old age by now. Koichi had been mistaken for Koji several times now, blue, almost black, long hair, average-looking build. He even dressed pretty similar to how Koji used to dress. On top of that, their family dispute was now public, and many people criticized his parents for not keeping him and Koji together. If only he knew where Koji was...
Digital World-15 years
All the eggs have hatched, and now there's baby and in-training digimon all over the place. Bokomon, Neemon, Angemon and the others are doing their best to take care of all of them. Heh... Bokomon's going baby-crazy again. One of the older in-training digimon is starting to look out for the others. I wonder if that's how the caretaker of the Village of New Beginnings got started...
Human World-1 month, 2 weeks
"Hey, son." Koichi's father said rather awkwardly as Koichi walked into the doorway in his apartment. He was sitting at the table with his mother, who looked very ill and tired after a day at work. They had been talking quietly when Koichi walked in.
"...Hi." He muttered, not meeting his father's gaze. He tried to hurry for his room, but his mother stopped him. "Koichi sweetie, how about you visit with us for a minute?"
"No thanks." He said curtly, making for his escape again.
"How was school son?" His father asked, probably trying to get him interested. "I said I don't want to talk!" The boy snapped, making for his room and flopping himself on the bed. Nobody tried to follow him, but Koichi almost wished they would.
Digital World-23 years
I'm bored. Just... so... bored. I've seen pretty much every baby digimon there is, and it's fun when they digivolve to rookie, but even that's getting old. Turuiemon, Angemon, and Gatomon have grown quickly. Each of them have reached the their Ultimate level, Antylamon, Magnaangemon, and Angewomon. Magnaangemon has even befriended an Angemon. I think Bokomon can tell when I'm around. He certainly pays keen attention. So does Angemon- the one Magnaangemon befriended. He acts weird whenever I come close. Even so, I think I'll leave the Village of New Beginnings. There must be something out there. Besides, I know every grain of dirt on this soil like the back of my hand. Literally! Sorry, Bokomon. It's just too quiet here.
Human World-4 months
"And so in the year 1987..." The blue-haired boy sighed as he slouched in his seat, chin on his school desk. The fact that he had been able to stop thinking about Koji for a few solid months amazed him, but his brother kept worming his way into his thoughts more and more often. What was he doing? How old was he now? Koichi had managed to convince himself Koji was alive, despite the declining frequency in searches. Normally searches could last for years, but Koji had grown up in the middle of a big city. Someone should have seen him by now. Police were starting to give up hope, and his parent's desperation was turning to grief. His dad came by more and more often, as if making up for losing one son by giving the other double the attention. As if that would make Koji come back... Wait!
A stick used for pointing-Koichi couldn't remember what it was called-rapped on his desk with a loud smack! Koichi looked up into the stern face of his history teacher, Mr. Sagiyama. "Son." He said with a frown. "We need to talk."
Koichi got up and followed Mr. Sagiyama into the hallway, hearing some of the class snicker behind him. "Koichi..." His teacher sighed, turning around once they were in the privacy of the hall. Turning stern again, he gave the boy a harsh glare. "Mr. Kimura, this is the sixth time I've caught you spacing out the past month! You better start paying attention, son."
"Y-yes, Mr. Sagiyama. It's just that- well, I... actually..." As Koichi spoke rapidly, struggling to find words, the teacher shook his head sadly and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Listen, Koichi. I know you've been upset with the loss of your brother. Even if you never knew him, it's hard not to wonder. I know. But you need to move forward. If you have questions, get answers. Just don't shut the world out, okay?" "Y-Yessir." Koichi stuttered, his mind reeling with the thought that had just occurred. What if Koji could come back?
Digital World-30 years
Never in my life did I think I'd be able to see an entire world grow firsthand. This is amazing, I wish someone were here to see this. Besides me, I mean. I think I'm actually enjoying seeing all the digimon separate into villages, and watch trailmon learn to go run the rails. I always liked history class- not that I'd let Takuya know.
Human World-4 months, 1 week
"Takuya!" Koichi yelled, running down the sidewalk with his jacket flapping. The spiky brown-haired boy wearing goggles turned to see and stared in astonishment. "Koichi?"
"Yeah, I know we haven't seen each other in a while, but I really need to talk to you!" He blurted out, skidding to a halt. Takuya finally blinked and said, "What?"
"It's about Koji!" He said, and that got Takuya's attention. "Say no more." He spoke crisply, motioning to a sheltered spot behind the trees that lined the left side if the path. Once they were there, Koichi began breathlessly. "Takuya, I know this will sound crazy but you need to hear me out. I think there's a way to bring Koji back from the digital world." The goggle boy only blinked, so he continued. "I think that if we got into the terminal below the subway, where you and the others went, we could follow the trailmon tracks all the way to the digital world."
It seemed to take Takuya a minute to process it, but when he did, his eyes lit up. "Koichi you're a genius!" He shouted with joy. "Let's go tell Zoe!"
Digital World-40 years
I ran into a digimon today. Well... actually, it's more like I passed through it. He was running, and when he passed me he stopped. Scariest, highest-level digimon I've seen so far. Ultimate, possibly even Mega. It's hard to tell. He turned around and I saw he was almost all black, and wore a red-trimmed skirt of some sort. He had a pretty tough-looking sword on his belt. Seeing noone, of course, he kept running. And I followed him.
The black digimon's definitely trying to get somewhere... wait, why's he going into that cave? He's blocking the entrance... good thing I can walk through walls. Now he's headed down a fork in the tunnel... I see light up ahead. This cavern must be huge! ...Oh... my. Oh no. Ohh no.
Human World-5 months
Koichi sat in a wooden chair opposite the woman behind the school counseling desk. She had blond hair and typed away on a laptop near her. It was stupid. Stupid he had to be here. Stupid that that kid had thought he was depressed or something. Sure, he had been sad since his conversation with Takuya, but that didn't mean he was depressed. He sighed and waited for the counselor to finish.
"Alright, Koichi." She began gently. "I hear there's been a lot going on with you and your family. Since that seems as good a place to start as any, how have you been feeling about your parents?"
"Well... me and my dad haven't been getting along that well." He admitted. "But it's not like we hate each other or something." This was a lie, Koichi knew. He hated his dad for abandoning his mom.
The school counselor-Mrs. Monita-typed something on her laptop. "And your mom?"
"No, I love my mom. I wish she had a less stressful job."
"Mmhmm." Mrs. Monita pushed aside her laptop for a moment. "And how about your brother?"
Koichi stared at her in shock. "I- what?"
"What do you think about when you hear your brothers name? Do you miss him?"
In that moment Koichi's throat swelled. This was the first time anyone had really mentioned Koji around him. He wanted to tell Mrs. Monita everything, about the digital world, about Koji being trapped and possibly dead there, about how their plan to bring him back cancelled itself out after Tommy pointed out that they couldn't have neared the speed it took to get to the Digital World, about how Koichi still denied the possibility that Koji was dead because he could almost feel him out there. But no, Mrs. Monita wouldn't have believed a word, and he had sworn himself to secrecy anyway. So instead he replied, "I can't miss someone I never knew."
Digital World-50 years
The black digimon is called Tactimon, and he's planning with a huge Machinedramon to capture Seraphimon, Cherubimon and Ophanimon. That was all I heard, Machinedramon must have sensed me because he told Tactimon to meet another day. The past few villages I've been through have all mentioned three powerful digimon who are building castles at the corners of the digiworld. I need to find Seraphimon, or Ophanimon, or at least Bokomon. I need to warn them. But where are they?
Human World-7 months
Koichi walked through the train station, looking around for an elevator. He held his phone in his hand, fiddling with the buttons. If only Ophanimon would call, maybe with news on Koji. He knew it was wishful thinking, so if she wouldn't call him he would find the digital world on his own. Stepping onto an elevator and making sure he was alone, he poked around at the controls. There had to be a hidden panel or something to take him to the terminal.
Digital World-55 years
Man, you'd think being a ghost would at least give you some sort of fast-travel ticket. Luckily, I don't need one to ride the trailmon. That's one perk of being invisible. Seraphimons castle is said to be hidden near Forest Terminal, and due to previous events, I can assume this to be fact.
Well, that was easy to find. Thank you, previous digital world. Now I have a whole new problem. Rats. How do you get inside a castle when it's surrounded by a giant forcefield? This thing is even impenetrable to me, which after all this time, is really saying something. Come on Seraphimon, let me in!
Human World-9 months, 2 weeks
It didn't make sense. It didn't make any sense. The more Koichi thought about it, the less sense it made. He sat at the kitchen table in his mother's apartment, chewing on a pencil as he went over math homework. What was the square root of X? And how on earth was he supposed to know? Bored with math, he pushed it aside and lay his head on the table, closing his eyes.
Koichi...
With a gasp, Koichi's head flew up and he looked around.
"Oh! Are you alright honey?" With a start, Koichi realized his mom had just walked in the door. "Y-yeah, you just startled me." He said, forcing a smile. On the inside, however, he was trembling. He knew that voice.
Digital World-80 years
This is ridiculous... and boring. I haven't been this bored since the Village of New Beginnings. Where's Seraphimon? I hope he hasn't been captured already. Actually... scratch that. He probably has been captured already. Tactimon and Machinedramon wouldn't delay their plans this long, surely? Oh no...
SERAPHIMON! Where have you been!? Do you know how long I've been waiting here!? Man, I wish he could hear me. At least I'm getting inside this stupid castle now. Angemon must have digivolved, there's a Magnaangemon with him.
...He was visiting the other celestials!? That's what took him so long!? Seriously...
Human World-11 months
Koichi was filled with frustration. He'd been hearing Ophanimons voice for months now but every time he tried to make contact she faded away. What was up with her?
Digital World-100 years
Warning them is harder than I thought. Nobody can hear me, see me, or even touch me. And it's not like I can just write on the wall. I think both Seraphimon and Magnaangemon can sense me. They both act odd when I'm within a certain distance. I've been trying to communicate with them for years. This is so frustrating, especially since I create the same effect outside the castle. If only I could use that to my advantage...
Oh no. Too late. Armies of digimon are converging on the forest kingdom. How did Tactimon and Machinedramon amass such a force? The shield that protects the castle is falling.
They were here. All those years to warn them, and they were here. Koji felt like such a failure as he watched Tactimon and two Ogremon burst into Seraphimons library. Seraphimon and Magnaangemon stood, attacks at the ready. A brown, leather-bound book sat on a table nearby.
"It's over, Seraphimon, now come quietly or else." Tactimon hissed.
"Never! Strike of the Seven Stars!" Seraphimon shouted, firing seven beams of light at Tactimon. Tactimon raised his sword and blocked it, glaring evilly from his steel face. "My turn." He growled. "Penetrating Blast!" The black-caped digimon rushed forward, thrusting his sword at Seraphimon.
"No!" Koji shouted, darting forward, and for the first time in one hundred years his hands grabbed a solid object.
Magnaangemon gasped in astonishment as his friend Seraphimon was pulled clear of the attack by some unseen force. This above all confirmed what he had sensed the past twenty years. There was another being in the castle with them... and it had just saved Seraphimons life. Before Magnaangemon could react, Tactimon was on Seraphimon again. "Ultimate Tactic!" He cried, bringing his sword downward. He did this once more, and Seraphimon fell unconscious. "No!" Magnaangemon shouted, surging towards Tactimon, but before he reached his target he was pinned by the two Ogremon.
"Don't worry." Tactimon said in a falsely sweet voice. "My master requires him alive. As for you," Tactimon picked up Seraphimons unconscious form and turned when he reached the door. "finish him." He ordered the two Ogremon. Then Tactimon made his escape.
Magnaangemon panicked for a second, but the two Ogremon were thrown off him by the same mysterious force. Shouting "Gate of Destiny!" He opened a large circle which sucked the two Ogremon in before closing. Racing for the table Magnaangemon grabbed the leather book sitting there-miraculously it had not been damaged-and flew out the window.
Human World-1 year
"Koichi..." Koichi woke in the night and sat up, looking around for the voice. "Koichi..." Gasping, the blue-haired boy realized that in place of his cell phone, a black and gray device with a small screen on the corner sat in place of his cell phone. His D-Tector. Grabbing it hastily, he picked up the gadget and whispered, "Ophanimon?"
"Koichi, you must find Koji."
Koichi gasped. "What?"
"Find Koji, but beware. Seraph..." Static interrupted the feminine voice, "What? Beware what?" He said in a low voice. "Careful... Ta... capture..."
Koichi's D-Tector beeped and the voice disconnected. But he knew what he had to do.
Preparing quickly and quietly, Koichi got dressed and filled a backpack with food for a month. Opening the door softly, he winced at the creaking sound, but no one stirred. Turning back, for the first time in a year Koichi gave a real smile and whispered, "Don't worry mom. I'm getting your son back."