Chapter Text
He’s running as the sound of laughter grows closer. The grip on his hand grows as they enter an abandoned building to hide from their pursuers.
He held the other close, trying to make themselves small, quiet, praying they would be passed over. Some prayers go unanswered; however, as the large hyena creature burst in, staring at them as if he had just found a buffet. “Found you…”
It all happened so quickly, he was blown back, only witnessing the hyena biting his brother and frost crawling on his skin.
No! he has to do something, he has to protect him, he has to fight. The sapotama in his hand starts glowing.
This creature says it’s different, that it will grant his wish, that it will protect them, and it does. He finally feels safe when the hyena turns into a red blob, even with the flames rising.
He didn’t see the second hyena.
Everything slowed down; it was lunging at him, the creature calling his name, and the golden staff swung between them before everything went black.
He opened his eyes to the scene among the flames. The creature that protected them, lying beside him glitching out, looking hurt. A monkey creature standing beside a long-haired person, he wasn’t sure if they were a man or a woman. That person walked up to his dazed brother and picked him up. The monkey smashed a hole in space, then that person walked away with his brother cradled in his arms.
“Wait! What are you doing!?” he said as he crawled after them. No, they couldn’t take him; he’s all he has. They can’t. 'Give him back!”
That person only stopped briefly and turned their head; sharp golden eyes looked at him as if he were looking at a pebble on the street, and he just kept walking.
“No! Stop! Pleas!” his cries fell on deaf ears; his arms wouldn’t reach, and he could do nothing. He saw tears well up in his little brother's bright red eyes as he vanished; all he could do was stare and scream.
“Tomaro!”
Asuka shot up his breathing ragged, sweat beading down his forehead, and tears threatened to fall. He looked to his right to see a Cougarmon and Siesamon sleeping soundly. He let out a sigh but paused at the groaning beside him. “Why can’t you be as deep a sleeper?” he said as Kyo rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
Kyo held his boyfriend’s face as he rubbed the unshed tears in his eyes with his thumb. “That nightmare again?” Asuka said nothing as he dug deeper in his hold, overlapping his hand over Kyo’s. The black-haired man leaned in for their foreheads touched “We’ll find him, ok?”
“It’s been five years, what if he doesn’t recognize me, what if he hates me for not protecting him, what if he’s already…” A pair of lips on his silences him; he returns the kiss as they lie back down on the bed. When they finally let go, Kyo drags his fingers through Asuka’s hair as he speaks. “My love, I understand your fears, but we can’t give up. No matter what, you’re not alone. We will find Tomaro and bring him home.” Kyo’s soothing voice and touch lull Aska back to sleep. He gives a soft nod before he gives in to his heavy eyes. When he wakes up, he will remember his goal, he will look after his new family, and he will find the last missing piece to make his family complete.