What if Ken was... And what if Takeru was the one who...

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Index

On TakeKen's basis in the text of 02

The Dark Ocean's influence

NEXT: TakeKen within It's Only You I Can't Escape

Congratulations, you've made it to part 2! Now that we've gone in-depth on Takeru and Ken individually, we'll bring it together to discuss how their traits combine and how the events of a single episode show us everything we need to know about their "relationship" potential (or, rather, about just how perfectly it sets up for the best kind of noncon...)

Sparrow: That Scene in Digimon Adventure 02, Episode 19:

Moro: My partner is correct, of course. Without question, episode 19 is the most crucial to understanding Takeru and Ken's dynamic. It's surely obvious by this point, but if you've somehow missed it, noncon is probably my most favorite kink to write and read. Therefore, understand that everything you're about to read is coming from that lens. Even the first time I watched Adventure 02, there was something about that scene that felt absolutely primed for a noncon scenario. The narrative beats and the atmosphere slot into it perfectly. So much about good noncon stories has much in common with good horror; a gradual buildup of fear and tension that leads to a dramatic release. It was after more "study" that I realized how much "That time Takeru lost his mind and got vicious on the Kaiser" was not some kind of one-off isolated madness, but just part of a larger pattern of behavior.

Takeru's actions in episode 19 are a culmination of all his issues coming to a head at once, all triggered by Ken. Since it is a sort of release of tension Takeru's been holding for a while, before we get to episode 19, it's important to talk about how by this point in the series Takeru is carrying around significantly more anger and hatred for the Kaiser than the other characters. Obviously, with the Kaiser being the primary antagonist, all the characters have good reasons to be angry at him, but Takeru really seems to take it personally in a way other characters don't.

Besides the separation of his family, Takeru's deepest and most affecting trauma is the loss of Angemon in Adventure episode 13. This manifests most obviously as Takeru being extremely touchy about threats to his partner, particularly outside the framework of a "normal" battle. In episode 11, the Kaiser manages to briefly capture Patamon and gets dangerously close to putting an Evil Spiral on him. Daisuke, still conflicted about fighting Taichi's Evil Spiral-controlled partner, stands helplessly and doesn't direct his own partner to attack the Kaiser and stop him. Takeru is so furious at Daisuke's inaction that he almost gets in a fistfight with him before Miyako breaks the two of them apart.

In the end the Kaiser isn't successful at getting the Spiral on Patamon, and he's returned to Takeru unharmed, but there is absolutely no doubt this is something Takeru holds onto, nursing a grudge in the background he's probably not conscious of. Fast-forward a bit to episode 19, where the Kaiser jabs at this sensitive spot again...

All right, now that we've got this important background factor in mind, let's get into episode 19 for real! Because this episode is so important to understanding the dynamic of Takeru/Ken, I'll be breaking things down in excruciating detail, as is my specialty. I hope you wanted a play-by-play of That Scene, because you're getting one! Strap in!

As Shiha notes, quote: "This is Takeru getting the closest we ever see him to being a genuine sadist [...] blowing up in anger out of nowhere with a passive-aggressive demeanor, [...] mixing the [smiling] ^^ front he puts on with his tendency to blow up angrily at anything that cuts him a little too emotionally close."

He sees that the Kaiser has deliberately used data from Devimon to create his "ultimate Digimon", becomes enraged to the point of losing control of himself, and recklessly walks off into the depths of the Kaiser's base. Though he's clearly mad as hell and absolutely couldn't wait to go do something to the Kaiser to the point of abandoning Iori, Tentomon, and Armadimon in their task of freeing the imprisoned Digimon, he doesn't even run off. Instead he walks slowly, purposefully, even though he has no idea where he could be going. Patamon is well-attuned enough to his partner to know this isn't good, and tries to dissuade him from doing this, but Takeru ignores him completely. There's no other possible reason he would have to do this except to make the Kaiser pay with his own hands.

Takeru doesn't have to walk very far before the two of them run right into each other.

There's something so ominous about the way Takeru speaks and behaves in this scene that's unlike any of his other emotional outbursts. The Kaiser meets him with his typical haughty attitude, but Takeru's response is extremely dismissive and contemptuous, not so much treating the Kaiser like a threat (the way he always has in front of his friends) but more like he's simply beneath him, a reprobate who needs to know their place. It's immediately evident that Ken was not even close to expecting this, and right away he's clearly unsettled and on the defensive, frozen in shock.

Takeru needles Ken about his real identity immediately and mocks the Kaiser's entire persona. The Kaiser claims he commands the power of darkness in an attempt to intimidate Takeru, and Takeru immediately throws it back at him as something he couldn't possibly understand, with a cryptic and extremely threatening remark that Ken "won't just get hurt". Despite how clearly furious he is, Takeru doesn't yell at the Kaiser at all, instead speaking the entire time with an extremely unsettling calm. Takeru's voice throughout the entire scene is so soft, almost sounding gentle, and it really makes the entire scene feel much more loaded than it would have if Takeru was shouting at Ken like a more typical conflict. In all aspects Takeru appears not to have lost his cool at all, but to be in total control of himself and the situation.

The Kaiser's attempts to respond are clumsy, as he can't even manage to formulate a real response to Takeru's words, opting instead to call the entire group "insects". His always tenuous grasp on the situation is slipping, the mental armor of the Kaiser is showing cracks, and the emotionally vulnerable Ken shows through underneath. As already discussed, this emotional vulnerability is one of Ken's core traits, but up until this point, the persona of the Digimon Kaiser has been sufficient to cover this up to outside observers, and none of the others in the group quite manage to get under his skin like this.

By this point

Takeru doesn't care at all. He gives an utterly contemptuous smile, and simply asks Ken, "Is that all you can say?" He doesn't know the specifics of what's been going on with Ken, but it's almost as if he can sense something in it, can detect the fragility showing through. A weakness he can exploit.

Just look at that expression!! This expression alone shows how dangerous Takeru is in this state. That smile looks downright sadistic... it's perfect. This might be my favorite shot in the whole episode...

Anyway, it's then that Ken lashes out physically, whipping the side of Takeru's face hard enough to draw blood.

And Takeru doesn't even flinch!! An angry glare melts into another contemptuous smile, and Takeru softly remarks that Ken obviously "Can't win with words, so you resort to violence, huh?" And despite every other act of violence we've seen the Kaiser commit thus far, he immediately tries to back down in response to this comment, stammering out a weak denial. He's not really had anyone get in his face like this in a small space, without having some muscle to defend himself, and this on top of his increasing instablity has him rattled in a way we haven't previously seen. And for good reason, as Takeru calmly remarks that it doesn't matter either way, and just asks Ken if he's "done".

If you compare between the two screenshots of Ken's face, you can clearly see him physically shrink away from Takeru. The other boy's calm, confident words are like needles piercing the fragile facade he's built up. Takeru cheerfully says "It's my turn"(!) It's clear that Ken physically attacking was really just the excuse Takeru was waiting for. Takeru could have simply jumped him the moment the Kaiser walked into the hall, before he had a chance to react. But he chooses instead to talk to him first, like a cat playing with its food. But now that Ken's thrown the first blow, it's all the excuse Takeru needs, and it's only now that he leaps at Ken, throwing such a nasty punch that it knocks Ken flat on his back.

It's at this point that we cut to the exterior battle, and when we cut back into the scene, Takeru has climbed on top of Ken and straddled him, pinning him to the floor to keep beating him. What a gift, for us to be handed such a scene on a silver platter. Takeru's really letting him have it, until a tremor from the battle outside causes the base the shake, which knocks Takeru off-balance.

Takeru's momentary stun gives the Kaiser the opportunity to throw Takeru off and grab his whip, but when he tries to get Takeru with it, Takeru catches the whip like it's nothing! Ken is supposed to be more physically fit and generally athletic than Takeru, (remember that at this point Ken still has all that Dark Seed superpower juice making him an extra special talented prodigy) but none of that matters when his mind's not in it. The fear is so palpable. For maybe the first time since becoming the Kaiser, he's really scared.

When we cut back, Takeru's already shoved Ken back to the floor and straddled him again. He just can't stay off him! In the background, their partners fight, until Chimeramon blows the roof clean off, at which point Takeru leaves to join the battle outside.

He's so persistent, so determined to keep attacking - how much of a stretch is it, really, for Takeru to conclude that just a few punches isn't enough for the likes of the Kaiser? That he needs to find a more... significant way to hurt him? That he needs to not only hurt him, but humiliate him, lay him low, make him feel violated and ruined...

Even sticking strictly to the canon events, it's extremely telling that Takeru never, at any point, mentions to the others any details about what he did in episode 19. Iori, having been present to see Takeru get set off, has some inkling that Something happened, but even he is in the dark about what Takeru actually did. It's not so hard to imagine Takeru crossing the line into true sadism, for his hatred of Ken to become sublimated into gleeful cruelty. Takeru's established patterns of behavior and specific grudge against Ken are practically enough on their own, but the final piece already at play in episode 19 that could easily give him that push is the presence of a direct conduit to the Dark Ocean, in the form of the Dark Whirlpool. A little extra influence from the Dark Ocean, pushing and prodding at Takeru's worst impulses, urging him on to do ever more awful things...

(For more in-depth discussion of this aspect, see the next section, "The Dark Ocean and its role".)

I've always maintained that Takeru is the one of the Chosen most likely to, and most capable of, committing rape under the right circumstances, especially to do it to someone he's angry at, since it's a uniquely awful way to hurt someone. It'd be so easy for him to do it and then justify it to himself after the fact - the Kaiser was evil, so he deserved it, after all... That's exactly the path the first episode of our story follows.

Sparrow:

He's lost his grip on reality, and someone's forcing him to confront that. What is he doing here? Why is he doing this? Does anything make him happy, make him feel better? Is he genuinely convinced he's the one in control here?

Ken's fucked at this point, and this obnoxious kid insists on tearing away his fragile delusion of grandeur.

Frankly, that's why it is so genuinely terrifying when, in our timeline, Takeru is the threat. Ken's pinned down after being forced to listen to how he's not perfect, he's just as worthless as he's always been, and his construct is fraying at the seams…

But he can't make it stop. He can't escape Takeru's voice. And only now does Ken grasp how serious, how furious, the boy atop him truly is. Ken only realizes the true gravity of the situation long after they've passed the point of no return.

And that is terrifying.

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Moro: The Dark Ocean is a dimension connected to, but separate from, the Real World and the Digital World, with specific properties that are variously touched on but not fully explained.

In Adventure 02 the Dark Ocean or its influence comes up repeatedly throughout the series: in episodes 13, 19, 23, 27, 31, 45, and 48. I'll refrain from a play-by-play deep dive into episode 13 here, but we do need to talk about it some because it's the most detailed look we get at the Dark Ocean in the whole series. Having some understanding of the Dark Ocean is am important piece to understanding how Takeru's issues could become intensified and worsened through something other than only his conscious choices.

Due to a dearth of definitive information, much of what I'll discuss here is inferences and logical deduction, and not things that have been explicitly confirmed. Even the name "Dark Ocean" (暗黒の海) isn't always what's used; per Wikimon, it's referred to as the "World of Darkness" (暗黒の世界) and also "Dagomon's Ocean" (ダゴモンの海), after its ruler, Dagomon (seen in the screenshot below). In the original Japanese language version, the characters themselves only call it a "world of darkness", "dark place", or "the Ocean".

The Dark Ocean's connection to other dimensions appears to be transient, wildly fluctuating, and generally unstable. Hikari begins to phase through the dimensions to the Dark Ocean early in episode 13, where she sees a hallucination or vision of dark water all around her while she's just sitting at her desk at school. The actual boundary between the Real World and the Dark Ocean is somewhat ill-defined and it goes both ways - in episode 13, Hikari catches sight of a Deep One at school in broad daylight.

Anyway, moving on, it's established in a flashback that the Dark Ocean was a major contributing factor to Ken's transformation into the Digimon Kaiser (along with the Dark Seed). This is really all the textual evidence we need of the Dark Ocean as a potentially "corrupting" force. In Ken's case, it's inarguable that the Dark Seed was the more significant factor, but it seems a certainty that this exposure to the Dark Ocean helped accelerate or possibly catalyze the process. Ken's corruption was also extremely drastic, to the point of changing him almost completely as a person, and this makes sense even if he did not have the Dark Seed; his exposure was the most direct compared to other characters that come into contact with the Dark Ocean.

In any case, it's clear that an individual's emotional state is the biggest factor in how they will be called to, or reached by, the Dark Ocean. The aforementioned example with Ken when he was younger is a clear instance (even if it was partly due to Oikawa's actions), but both times Hikari is pulled to the Dark Ocean are also caused by emotional distress, her ongoing problem of being unable to let herself vocalize her needs and problems to others, even when it directly harms her.

Likewise, Ken's behavior is altered according to his grief, feelings of inadequacy and envy of his brother, and the aggravating factor of the Dark Seed. This makes him "evil" in a sort of aimless, misguided fashion, because fundamentally Ken isn't a cruel person! What the Dark Ocean pushes someone to think or feel is dependent on their own issues, personality, and natural inclinations, as well as their emotional state at the time of "exposure".

This brings us to Takeru, who is exposed to the Dark Ocean on three occasions. His first, as already discussed above, is when he deliberately goes there to rescue Hikari in episode 13. However, the one we are going to talk about here is when he's in close proximity to the Dark Whirlpool (which we can infer from context has a connection to the Dark Ocean and the Dark Area) in episode 19. You might've wondered why I didn't start with his approach to the Dark Whirlpool in my episode 19 breakdown - it's because I wanted to dive into it more in-depth here.

I mentioned earlier that the Dark Ocean has an implied connection to the Dark Area, and it's in episode 19 that we see this. The Dark Area is where evil Digimon reside and also where deleted data goes and the residual data of dead Digimon. Devimon was pretty categorically obliterated in episode 13 of Adventure, and we get confirmation in this episode that his residual data has been kicking around down in the Dark Area ever since. Not long after retrieving the scraps of Devimon's data, the Kaiser begins to suffer horrible hallucinations, a direct byproduct of aggravating the Whirlpool - a dual effect of connecting with the Dark Area and provoking the Dark Ocean's attention.

Pegasmon senses that it's not good and tells Takeru not to look too deeply into the Whirlpool when they're flying above it, but Takeru stares into the abyss long enough to see strange ghost-like apparations before flying off. It's not an unreasonable deduction that he could also have been affected by the Dark Ocean (with some added juice from the Dark Area) the way Ken was, but since their personalities deep down are so different, the effect of this contamination is also different. Contemplating the effects of Takeru becoming infected with a Dark Seed... well, he'd be far worse than the Kaiser ever was.

Now recall that the Kaiser's base is powered by a reactor that siphons evil energy from the Dark Ocean. It allows the fortress to float and move around, powers the electronics inside, and allows him to create Evil Rings, Evil Spirals, and Dark Towers. This means that the entire time Takeru is walking around in the Kaiser's base, he's likely being.

This is why we make the case that the Dark Whirlpool could influence Takeru's behavior in episode 19; when he's already unstable and already acting irrationally, it's not much of a stretch to think that the Dark Ocean could sense that coming from him and reach out, respond. It already does with Ken, who is likewise more unstable by this point, plaguing him with hallucinations.

Takeru also comes into contact with the Dark Ocean in episode 27, wherein he is directly exposed to the conduit power source in what remains of the Digimon Kaiser's base. This is important to "reinforcing" the influence it has on him in our work, something which we'll dig into a bit more in Part 3 of the manifesto...

Interested in reading analysis and more background information, and details about the dynamic specific to Takeru and Ken and their relationship in It's Only You I Can't Escape? Of course you are!!

Please note that in The most significant spoilers will be hidden under a readmore arrow, but you should still proceed with caution if you haven't finished the story.

Click the link below to go to part 3 of this deranged academic paper that is our thoughts on takeken:

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