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

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The Takeru/Ken Manifesto: A Foundation of Disaster

Part 3: Imprisoned by Fate

Index

Takeru's obsession and descent into madness

The paradox of Ken's feelings toward Takeru

The evolution of Takeru & Ken's relationship

Conclusion


Welcome to part 3. Congratulations, you've made it so deep into the takeken manifesto that you hit the part where we talk about their characterizations and relationship in our own work. If you've read this much, you're surely converted to the cause! Thank you for your participation in the Takeru/Ken Corrective Therapy Program™ and welcome to hell!!

This is the closest thing to a headcanons page on a normal ship shrine, but instead, this pertains specifically to the canon of It's Only You I Can't Escape itself. We won't be referring to them as headcanons since they pertain to things which are only applicable in that context, and aren't things we hold as headcanons to Adventure 02 generally. If you think this sounds like hairsplitting, you are probably right, but I'm afflicted with a disease that forces me to be extremely specific about everything all the time, so you'll just have to deal. You can also regard them as some "behind-the-scenes" special insights and some (many) overall horny thoughts.

There was a tiny bit of restraint in parts 1 and 2, if you can believe that, but there will be no more restraint from here on out. Welcome to the fuck zone.

Warning: Some of the content found here will contain major spoilers for our story! We highly recommend finishing it before reading this section.

The most significant plot spoilers are hidden (click the arrow to expand or collapse the section), but proceed carefully.


Takeru and Ken in It's Only You I Can't Escape

The concrete inciting factors that separate It's Only You I Can't Escape from the canon (apart from the obvious; that is, Toei is not going to write thousands of words of noncon porn) are "what if the Dark Ocean's influence bled through to Takeru just enough to push him over the line when he's already in a precarious spot" and the simple happenstance of having the roof blown off significantly later and thus, giving enough time for Takeru to follow that depraved urge the first time, setting the stage for an inevitable, gradual downward spiral.

Consequently, given the unique way in which our story diverges from, and subsequently branches off of, the canonical timeline of Digimon Adventure 02, it is obvious that the characters would be changed by it. Takeru is probably the most drastically changed by these events, so we'll discuss his character arc first.

- Takeru's obsession and descent into madness -

Moro: This arc actually fell into place quite naturally without a lot of forward planning on our part. The series is entirely set off by Takeru's decision - under the influence of the Dark Ocean - to push just a little further in that fight with the Kaiser than he did in canon, and to make sure the Kaiser really never forgets the lesson by first beating him down and then raping him. Crossing that line once is bad enough, is enough of a horrifying transgression on its own. Indisputably, it's the kind of act you can't walk back, no matter your reasons. Takeru knows this, and this is why it's so catastrophic for him to cross it. As far as he's concerned, there's no going back, so what's stopping him

The Dark Ocean continues to reinforce these shifts that have begun to take shape in his personality, the subtle warping of everything that's already there. In episode 27, Takeru and the rest of the group are exposed to a direct conduit to the Dark Ocean, which we learn is what powered Ken's base when he was the Kaiser.

Takeru above the Whirlpool Dark Ocean conduit opening Dark Ocean conduit reaction

This additional exposure reinforces the dark path Takeru has already headed down.

- The paradox of Ken's feelings toward Takeru -

Sparrow: It starts out as furious fear before his fall. After, initially, he lets it happen because he thinks he deserves it, but when he does decide enough is enough, time and again, Takeru refuses to let him be.

No matter how much or little culpability Ken actually has, Takeru's constant recounting of his sins continues to convince Ken to shut up and take it instead of letting anyone know. And the tiniest hints of comfort and affection Takeru offers leave Ken torn up inside.

As time goes on, Ken becomes resigned to his fate, until they leave for separate colleges. But the retaliation Takeru punishes him with makes sure Ken can't ever dare hope to escape.

At the same time, that total resignation allows Ken to live a life beyond Takeru. While his tormentor always looms, Ken lives his own life entirely separate from him. Including his engagement to Miyako.

Spoilers

His final attempt to put a stop to it on the wedding night permanently crushes Ken's resistance, as Takeru's mark mars his skin, and it's gone on so long, he can't even imagine telling anyone. Why would they believe him? What would they think of him? Clearly he likes it, to have allowed it to continue for well over a decade…

The slightest spark returns with his daughter's birth, but not for himself. Only for her. It is his singular defiance of Takeru, keeping her from ever even seeing his face. And while he doesn't use it to shield himself, a secondary effect pushes Takeru even farther off the deep end: he's increasingly isolated from group gatherings. Plus, Ken's fierce love for her feeds Takeru's furious, possessive jealousy.

Through all the years, Ken is somewhat aware, on a rational level, that this isn't okay. None of it's about justice; all of it serves to gratify the sadistic Takeru. But all the same, Ken's deep association of pain and pleasure convinces him that some part of him does like it, even once he stops believing he deserves it. And he's long since learned his lesson about trying to escape Takeru's grasp.

Moro: I'm far less of an expert, but I do have a few thoughts. Something else I found interesting that emerged over the course of the story is how effectively Ken manages to create his own fairly full life in spite of being Takeru's de facto prisoner.

Because Takeru must keep it concealed from their friends at all costs, he's actually more or less completely unable to control what Ken actually does outside of his relationship with him. Takeru's not willing to risk exposing himself, so he's also not willing to engage in too much overt manipulation or attempt to isolate Ken the way he might want to, since it would arouse suspicion.

Spoilers

I believe this is the reason Ken manages to maintain a semblance of stability for so long, despite everything Takeru does to him. At the end of the day, Ken has a refuge in his friends and, later on, in Miyako and his family, and hence he's not truly alone. Unlike Takeru, whose obsession with Ken places him in an ever more precarious position and isolate him further from their friends, Ken never quite slides down the pit, until the very end.


- Conclusion -

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