Disclaimer: Digimon does not belong to me.
Always Here
Midnight Adventure
Sora and I have been best friends since I can remember. We've always been so close. Especially since her father died.
*Flashback*
One day, when I came home from school, I saw my mom sitting at the kitchen table with the phone in her hand. Her eyes were red.
"How was school, honey?" She got up and put a plate of cookies in front of me.
"Okay."
"That's good." She aimlessly wiped some dust off the kitchen counter. "Sora's going to stay with us for a few days. I want you to help me clean up a little."
"Okay." I agreed. "Why can't she stay in at her own house?"
My mom sighed. "Mr. Takenouchi came home yesterday. Sora's mom thinks it'd be better if she wasn't around.
"Oh." Even though I was still a little kid, I knew about Sora's father. He had been in the hospital for a long time because he had cancer. My mom and Mrs. Takenouchi were good friends. Judging by the way she looked and sounded this couldn't be good. "Is he okay?"
She wouldn't look at me.
"Is he going to die?"
Mom hugged me. "I don't know, sweetie." I knew that meant yes. "I want you to be extra nice to Sora, okay?"
I nodded. But I wasn't going to be. A lot of kids at school were and Sora hated it. So I was only going to be as nice to her as I normally was, which was pretty nice.
Sora came over with her mom a half-hour before dinner.
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Mom asked politely, even though we knew she didn't.
"No. I'd better get back." She replied.
"I'll give you something to take with you." My mom put stuff in a bowl and covered it with foil.
Sora's mother took it. "Thank you. I'll see you in a few days, okay Sora?"
"Okay." She hugged her.
"Thank you for everything." She said to my parents.
"It's our pleasure," said my dad. She left.
"Sit down between Tai and Kari." My mom instructed.
Sora put her stuff down and did as she was told. I smiled at her sadly. She didn't smile back.
"Hey, why don't we play a game after dinner?" Dad said. "Kari and I could play against the three of you."
"Yea!" Kari cheered.
Sora put her fork down. "No, thank you. Excuse me."
My parents exchanged a look. My dad started to go after her, but Mom shook her head.
"Let her be alone."
We didn't see Sora until it was time for bed. The sleeping arrangements were like this: Dad on the couch in the living room, Kari in our bedroom, and me and Sora in the big bedroom with Mom.
Around midnight, I woke up and went to get a glass of water. I passed Sora on the way to the kitchen.
"What are you doing awake?" I asked. She was dressed and holding her jacket in her hand.
"I want to go see my daddy."
"Now?"
She nodded. "Mommy won't let me see him, so I have to go while she's asleep."
"You can't go out alone." I said.
"Then I guess you'll have to go with me."
I started to protest, but I could see her mind was made up. "Okay. I'll go."
"Good. Do you know where the keys are?"
I pointed at the hook by the door.
"Take them. We'll need them to get back in." I was impressed. She really had the whole thing planned out. I nodded and went to get the keys. I had to stand on a chair, but I managed.
Sora opened the door and we tiptoed out so we wouldn't wake my parents.
"Are you sure you know the way? I asked when we were in the elevator.
She nodded. "You scared?"
"Not really." I replied. That was true, although I wasn't absolutely certain about going to see a dying man.
"I am." She said. I took her hand and squeezed it.
We got to the first floor and sneaked, past the doorman, outside. That was easy since we were both pretty small. And he mostly slept on the job.
We walked a couple of blocks to Sora's building.
"How are we supposed to get there?" I asked.
She pointed at the fire escape. "The window's broken and the security system doesn't work, so we should be able to get inside. Are you sure you want to do this?"
I nodded, looking braver than I felt. We climbed all the way to the sixth floor and pushed open the window. I gave her a boost and she climbed in. Then I climbed up. We were in the bathroom.
"This way." She whispered. We went into the living room. Her father was lying on the couch and her mother was asleep next to him.
We tiptoed over to him. "Daddy?" Sora whispered.
He opened his eyes. "Sora, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see you, Daddy."
He glanced over at me. "Tai? You too?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. At least you were together."
"I'm going to miss you, Daddy. Please don't leave." Sora cried.
"It's okay, sweetheart. No matter what happens, I'll always be here in your heart. Can you remember that?" She nodded. "Good. Now I want you two to go back to Tai's apartment."
"Okay, Daddy." We started to leave.
"Wait, Tai."
I turned around. "Yes, sir?"
"Sora, wait for him over there for a minute." She obeyed. "Come here." He said to me.
I went to him.
"I want you to take care of Sora, okay? Promise me you'll do that."
"I promise, sir."
"Now go home. I won't tell anyone you were here."
"Yes, sir. Come on, Sora." She cast one last look at her father and then we went into the bathroom, climbed out the window and went down the fire escape.
We walked in silence back to my building. I let us in. We tiptoed into the apartment and climbed back into bed.
"Good night, Sora." I whispered.
"Night, Tai." She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
No one ever knew about what we did. Sora's father kept his word, I know. Because he died the next morning. But I'll never forget my promise to him.
To be continued…