Author's Notes

Hi (or Hi again). I wasn't planning to start this story now, but unfortunately, I lost all in-progress chapters that were stored on my USB. Luckily they're backed up on the school computer, but since I can't get to them till at least Monday, I just worked on this idea. Personally, I find it rather interesting, so I'd love to know what other people think.

This is an AU, so as per usual, there is a slight variation in character and character pasts. Takuya especially starts off OOC, but he'll get into character towards the middle, so don't worry, or complain about that. It's sort of the point. Some characters only change as much as other changes impact on them, while other changes drive the story in a separate direction to the frontier episodes. Plot also changes, quite drastically, at some point, so I'm curious to find out how many people manage to figure it out before the first chapter.

BTW, the analogy from which the title and summary is derived from was in one of the teacher's lectures. I found it quite interesting, so I borrowed it. This teacher doesn't teach me though, it was a one-time thing.

Anyway, enjoy, and R&R

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon or the butterfly analogy. All I own is my writing and my trusty laptop.


Butterflies' Flight

AU. Like butterflies, they followed the flame, drawn to his light, despite that fact that following so blindly could potentially lead to corruption. And yet they shy away from the dark, the one thing that may save them yet...

Takuya K & Kouichi K


Prologue

The call was broadcasted rapidly. Within seconds, the message had reached every cell phone in Shibuya-ku and its neighbouring districts, and children all over were hurrying to follow the instructions given.


Shibiyama Junpei had been on the way home from the bakery when he received his message. One hand held the handles of his bicycle steady, while the other held the small portable device as brown eyes scanned the fine print.

This is a game to determine your future. Are you willing to play?

Two choices appeared below it: 'yes' and 'no', the 'yes' option selected. A simple press of the button would verify his accord.

It was strange though. It was a simple message, and yet it meant so much more. He could feel it, somewhere deep down, that whichever decision he made, it would be a life-changing one. It would be a game, yes, but it would be more than just that. It would be a game that actually counted for something, a game that would mean that something somewhere would change and would be determined. His future. He knew his future, and it was unfruitful. Any opportunity that came his way to change that, he would take it.

His finger hovered above the button. He knew if he pressed it now, there would be no turning back. Closing his eyes, he gave the matter one more moment of thought. Distantly, he could hear the thunder rumbling...well, the weather forecast had predicted a storm. He took a deep breath, letting his mind envision the future he felt himself to be heading towards. He saw himself, exactly as he was, a thirteen year old boy, slightly chubby, good at magic tricks, but friendless. Alone, apart from the parents he had never established a deep relationship with, rather choosing to indulge in chocolate and other edibles for the feeling of euphoria rather than human companionship, perhaps because his larger frame caused others his age to shun him. He was cowardly too, flinching at every flash of lightning, running from confrontation...and he could see himself in the future, alienated and left behind in his own insecurity as others advanced.

That was not the future he wanted. And if this gave him the opportunity to make something of it, then so be it. His brown eyes opened, eyebrows furrowing to give a hardened gaze as the extended finger descended upon the button, and with a small, satisfactory noise, the screen lit up.

Good. Get to the Shibuya Station by six. Take the elevator to the basement.

He looked at his watch. It was 5:30, and it would take him around twenty minutes to cycle to Shibuya station at his leisure speed.

Sighing, he hoisted himself up, slipping his feet into the pedals and slipping comfortably into the seat, before tightly gripping the handle-bars and kicking off down a sloping road, cycling a bit before letting gravity take over.


Orimoto Izumi was just putting the finishing touches on a large, Italian style pizza when her cell phone beeped to alert her to the new message. Wiping her hands on a towel, she opened up the message, her green eyes scanning over its content.

This is a game to determine your future. Are you willing to play?

Two choices appeared below it: 'yes' and 'no', the 'yes' option selected. With a simple press of the button, she could select the path in which she belonged.

It was something out of the ordinary, an opportunity that she could grasp with both hands. It meant something, there was something calling her.

She was silent, listening to the wind whistling outside. She could be free, like that. She could follow the path of destiny and find a path where she belonged, and meant something. Her future...it was more than a pointless game, because the prize was something she wanted to attain. To determine her future...she was willing, willing to play and take a hand to change her future.

Because she wanted to belong, but she was adamant against changing who she was.

She pressed the button, and the screen lit up, displaying a new message.

Good. Take the train on the Yamanote line Tokyo bound. Disembark at Shibuya station, and then take the elevator to the basement.

She glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. That train would be leaving in a few minutes. She'd have to hurry if she wanted to catch it.

And so hurried she did.


Himi Tomoki found himself corned by two older boys when the three received messages, saving the young brunette from what would have otherwise been a fierce beating. He pulled the phone from its confines within a pocket in his pants, and opened it up to read the new message.

This is a game to determine your future. Are you willing to play?

A game? His childish curiosity was spiked by these words. And it was only slightly quelled by the following words. His destiny...he looked at the two bullies in front of him, reading and pondering over their own messages, before turning back to his own. He wanted to play...to change, to not cower and falter in front of those who wished to hurt him, to have the freedom that he lacked, to see the outside world so that he could mean something in the eyes of a brother who thought so little of him...

It could be a hoax, but he didn't think so. It was a simple message, but it sparked something inside of him. He felt cold suddenly, like tundra of ice had pierced through his heart, but it was comforting...and it was strong.

He wanted to be like that too. Ice...strong, with so much potential which could be tapped into...

He wanted a future like that, rather than the one he saw in front of him, cowering behind those with more power, as his brother had repeatedly claimed.

He glanced at the screen, seeing two options beneath the message, 'yes' and 'no', the 'yes' option already selected. Without another hesitation, he pressed the button, sealing his accord.

Good. Get to Shibuya Station by six. Take the elevator to the basement.

He stood. They were in Shibuya Park now. The walk to the station would take around ten minutes, twenty at most, and so he slipped passed the older boys immersed with their own cell phones, and began the solitary trek. He didn't look back, and so didn't notice the other two boys following him.


Kanbara Takuya was glaring sourly at the birthday cake in front of him while listening to the one-sided argument on the phone when his phone beeped to alert him to an incoming message. Brown eyes flew over the text, the glare lessening slightly in intensity as he words registered in his mind.

This is a game to determine your future. Are you willing to play?

His future? He glanced at his mother, the auburn haired woman still yelling something into the land-line phone, before turning brown eyes back to the cell phone in his hand. His future?

He had never given that much thought about his future. It had always seemed so far and unattainable. For instance, barely a few months back, he had never dreamed his parents would ever fall out of love, and now they were arguing constantly, and it had even gone so far as to consider a divorce.

His father was at work, again. Increased criminal activity had taken him far from home into remote regions of Tokyo once again. And his little brother, Shinya, lay on the mat, playing with his latest toy and completely oblivious to all the problems of life.

But he was older. He knew. And he hated it. And he wanted the power to change it. The power to control these circumstances and oppress those responses undesirable. He wasn't used to it; before, he had been carefree, happy...now it seemed, everybody's boundaries were tested in a way he detested.

He hated it; he wanted the power to control it, rather than being a bystander unable to make a difference. And this, this opportunity, it felt as though it would give him that chance.

He glanced at the remainder of the message, at the two options which appeared beneath it. 'Yes', which was highlighted, and 'no'.

He pressed yes, and then waited, as the screen lit up again.

Kanbara Takuya...

He looked around. For a moment, the domestic scene of his house had vanished, to be replaced by a chamber shining brightly with light, so brightly that it was burning his eyes and blurring his vision. Something flashed through his mind, too quickly to decipher, before it faded away, leaving him feeling slightly different, but not wholly wrong.

He looked at the new message.

Very good. Catch the 5:45pm Tokyu-Toyoko train from Jiyugaoka station. Disembark at Shibuya Station, then take the elevator to the basement.

He stood, the wooden chair scraping behind him. Distantly, he heard his mother call out to him, but he ignored her, grabbing his hat and goggles off the chair before stepping over his brother's form and heading for the door.

Shinya stared, slightly blankly at his brother's retreating back. His brother sometimes got annoyed with him, but he was kind, and generally cheerful. Though, with his parents fighting often, some of that cheerfulness had faded, but he had never seen his elder brother seem so...cold, stepping over him as if he had never even been there.

He didn't like it. Not one little bit.


Kimura Kouichi glanced around the corner at the flower shop across the street and a few blocks down. Through the glass, he could see various flowers: roses, carnations, lilies...and he could see a boy whose face was identical to his own inspecting them.

Minamoto Kouji...he had been following him for awhile now, trying to grasp an opportunity to talk to him, to tell him, and to fulfil his grandmother's last wish. Her dying words echoed in his mind as he steadied his nerves, and took a deep breath, before crossing the street and entering the shop.

The lady at the counter was preparing a bouquet, but aside from the three of them, the small store was empty. Shyly, hat down to cover his facial features, Kouichi walked up to the other boy.

'Are you Minamoto Kouji?' he asked, trying to keep a tremor out of his voice.

Kouji turned, glaring slightly as he replied in the affirmative. 'What about it?' he asked immediately afterwards, slightly suspicious as to why a complete stranger knew his name. Normally, he would had simply ignored him, but something inside wouldn't let.

The other boy gave a deep breath before replying. 'My name is Kimura Kouichi. Does that mean anything to you?'

Kouji's confusion grew, as did his frustration. 'No' was his short and sweet answer.

Kouichi shook his head slightly. 'I didn't think so..,' he sighed. 'I know this sounds strange, but-'

He was suddenly cut off by a phone beeping. Turning away to show this conversation was done, Kouji pulled his cell phone from a jacket pocket and flipped it open, displaying a new message.

This is a game to determine your future. Are you willing to play?

Two choices appeared below it: 'yes' and 'no', the 'yes' option selected. All he had to do was press the button, and the deal would be sealed.

He pondered a moment. He had his father, his stepmother, and his dog, but he was neither content nor satisfied. It always felt as though something was missing, something was calling him...and he wanted, no, needed to know what. He thought of his mother, her picture being the only thing left of her, and the loneliness he had all but forced upon himself.

He could go on the way he was, but he was dissatisfied. He wanted answers, and despite the fact that he didn't allow himself to get close to anyone, he longed for companionship. And something told him that this would provide him that.

He had all but forgotten about the other boy as he pressed the button and verifying his choice. The screen lit up, displaying a new message.

Good. Get to Shibuya Station by six. Take the elevator to the basement.

He looked up to the clock on the wall. 5:43. Two minutes before the train to Shibuya would disembark from Jiyugaoka station.

'Flowers are ready,' the lady at the counter said, holding out the finished bouquet. Kouji tore his eyes from the clock, a fleeting reminder of his parents' anniversary, before he pushed it away.

'I'll pick them up later,' he called, racing out the door as the woman's expression turned baffled. He was too preoccupied to hear the soft footsteps behind him.