Crystal Legends

Chapter 1 – Expectations

DISCLAIMER: I don't own digimon, but I own any OCs mentioned in this story. Yeesh.

"Look at you! You're soaked!" Hikari scolded, hurriedly removing her son's sodden sweater from around his waist and hanging it over the radiator in the hall.

"Sorry, Mom," Day responded automatically, but Hikari could tell he wasn't really paying her any attention. The far-off look on his face worried her for some odd reason and she frowned, having learnt long ago that she should always trust her instincts.

"Day, is something wrong? What happened to you?"

"What?" Day came abruptly back to earth. "I fell, like I said."

"Hm." Hikari said no more, but the gnawing feeling in her gut did not disappear.

Takeru was leaning against the hall wall, saying nothing. The routine was well-established – Hikari generally handled their son's reprimand, and Takeru only spoke if he felt it necessary. Tonight, though… he had noticed it too – there was definitely something odd about his son's behaviour.

"Day?"

Day looked up into his father's blue eyes. "Yeah?"

Takeru didn't know why, but found he couldn't say more than, "Be careful." He wondered briefly if it was because he had never really had any parental interference when he was growing up, but let the thought slide into the recesses of his consciousness and remarked, "It's late. Don't you think it's about time you went to bed? You have school tomorrow."

Day's whole demeanor suddenly brightened. "Oh yeah!" He pelted to the door of his room, turning only to call back, "Night!" before his door slammed behind him.

Hikari gazed after him in wonder. "Day, excited about going to school?"

She turned to her husband, who voiced her thoughts even before she opened her mouth, a wry grin on his face.

"I know. Something must be up."

Once Day was safely entombed in his room, he dug his hand eagerly into his jeans pocket and pulled out the crystal. It did not glow like before, but in the light of his desk lamp it reflected a deep amber colour. Day had no idea what had compelled him to take the stone, but he had a strange feeling of satisfaction about doing so. He turned it over in his hands, marvelling at the way the harsh light softened upon touching it. But he knew he had a problem. He had to hide this from Mom and Dad – it ruined his whole story about falling, and he didn't think his parents would be too pleased if they knew he had been wandering around in konpaku kyassuru. They both hated the place; indeed, their vehemence about it had always struck Day profoundly, for as long as he could remember.

He glanced about his room, searching for a hiding place. As his eyes moved over the bookcase, he suddenly remembered the book Uncle Taichi had got him that Christmas. Perfect.

"Great Expectations?"

The eight-year-old Day wrinkled his nose and gazed up at his spiky-haired uncle, who was grinning hugely.

Day was unimpressed. "You waited until everyone else had gone to give me this?"

Taichi was still grinning. "Yeah. Why don't you open it up and check out the first page?"

Day remained unconvinced, but to please his favourite uncle he lifted the cover and peered inside.

Immediately his doubts vanished, and he threw open the cover.

Inside, there were no pages – rather, the book had been hollowed out in the centre, creating a little storage space. Day's head was already full of the things he could hide in there – jumping beans, itching powder, fake blood sachets… his Uncle Taichi's other presents would fit in here great!

"Thought you could hide your love letters in there!" Taichi teased.

"Oh, Uncle Taichi!" Day made a face in disgust. "Yuck!"

Taichi laughed and ruffled his nephew's hair. "Seriously, it's for hiding all your secret junk. Glad you like it!"

Day's eyes were wide. "Oh, yeah!"

Day chuckled at the memory, and stood to go over and get the book. But as soon as he stood up, he was hit by a huge wave of dizziness and nausea. He wobbled, and then suddenly his legs gave out and he collapsed. The gem rolled out of his hand and under his bed.

He was unconscious before his head hit the floor.