The Darkness Within

by regnum

[Takari] "I want to tell them that I am no longer a child, that I am a woman grown. But even to my ears, that is a lie. So much of that child still remains in me. Sometimes I feel as though I will never grow up. That I will never be strong enough to reall

~* The Darkness Within *~

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: Here I am with another series. I'm fighting writer's block for everything else, so I figured that I'd give this a go.

Prologue: Awakening Dreams

I can hear the blood pounding in my ears and my eyes snap open. The sheets are twisted around me, confining and trapping me.

Fear surrounds me.

Why now? Why have these dreams come again? I thought I had finally escaped, that the darkness would leave me alone. I was wrong. A single tear creeps down my cheek and I bite my lip to keep a sob from escaping. I can't let him hear me.

I know him too well. I know that if I tell him, I'll worry him. I promised I wouldn't do that anymore. I wish I could tell him. So that he could look at me with those comforting blue eyes and tell me that it will be okay. So that he'll wrap his arms around me and promise me that he'll protect me from everything.

He'll even protect me from myself.

I love him. I always have. I love him with every fibre of my being. And I know that he loves me too. Because of that I can't tell him.

I've never told him about these dreams that have haunted me. It's been so long now. Too long. Sometimes they come every night. Sometimes it's months, even years between them. But they've always been there, and they're always the same.

They call to me in my sleep. They tell me that I'm the only one who can save them. Then they betray me. They are the embodiment of my inner darkness, a darkness that I fear and resent because I know that there's nothing I can do to destroy it fully.

All these years I've kept them buried away. They've lain dormant. Waiting. I feel their eyes on me and a shiver runs down my spine.

Now is the time…

The whisper hangs on the air, lingering, taunting. Spikes of fear shoot through me.

We are coming…child of light…we are waiting…

More tears fall, but I can't even raise a hand to wipe them away. So they fall, unchecked, dampening the pillow beneath me.

I want to tell them that I am no longer a child, that I am a woman grown. But even to my ears, that is a lie. So much of that child still remains in me. Sometimes I feel as though I will never grow up. That I will never be strong enough to really be a woman.

So much of my strength lies in the others. In my brother, who has always been my protector, in Sora, who is the sister I never had, and in the man who lies next to me, the one who I love and who I will love until the end of time. Without them, without my Digidestined companions, I am nothing.

A gentle touch on my shoulder. I blink.

"You okay?" he looks at me with half-asleep blue eyes, golden blonde locks tousled and out of place. The slightest hint of worry touches his features.

Wordlessly, I nod.

"You're crying." It's more a statement than anything else. His fingers reach up, pale in the dim light, and gently wipe the tears away.

He doesn't know it, but the fear loses its hold with his touch.

Those same fingers travel gently down my cheek, caressing so lightly I'm not even sure I feel it. He kisses my forehead gently, "Bad dream?"

He doesn't know the half of it. "Yes," I whisper, but it sounds so loud in the room.

His arm rests around my waist and he slowly pulls me close, close enough so that our noses almost touch. "Dreams can't hurt you, you know," he tells me softly, "Go to sleep. I'll protect you."

I wish he could protect me. But even he can't save me from this. This time, it is I who will protect you, Takeru.

~*~

A/N: I know, it's kinda…weird. Well, it's the prologue, so nothing has to be explained yet. Yes, if you haven't figured it out…it's Takari. My first actually. R&R if you want me to continue. Thanks!

© 2002-06-20

Abi