Author's Note: God, has it really been FOUR years since I last wrote a Digimon fic? How time flies when you get older (sigh). Although I've labeled this as Taiora, it's actually both Taiora and Sorato (yes, a pairing I used loathe in the past…shoot me if you must).
If the title sounds any way familiar to you, then chances are you probably know what direction this story's going to take. Otherwise, you don't have to know. But be warned, things might get a little unpleasant in future chapters.
Just to avoid any confusion, this Prologue takes place during the first season. Read the story to learn more, though.
Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me. So please take the suing elsewhere.
…
Last Love Song On This Little Planet
By Charles Xavier
…
Prologue
…
"I still remember the gentleness of her smile, the sweetness in her voice, the colorlessness of her skin, and the ineffable fear that dwelled within her own two eyes. It was no question that she was afraid. I suppose we all have to be afraid sometimes, don't we? You just never know what you're capable of doing one day. What happened wasn't her fault. She didn't have a choice. Life doesn't always offer choices. But when it comes to those that matter, they're the only ones that you can make."
…
"I've found you!"
Sora Takenouchi had to be the best player at hide and seek amongst everyone else. Not even their Digimon were able to outsmart her. In three minutes flat, she uncovered Taichi and Yamato hiding together under a willow tree. How she was able to pinpoint their location in the meandering forest must have been out of pure luck, or just something beyond anybody's knowledge.
"Gee, Sora. You'll have to teach me how you keep finding us so well." said Taichi, scratching his head curiously.
"It's definitely got me." Yamato shrugged, pulling Taichi's hand to help him up.
"It's simple." Sora smiled, winking at them. "All I have to do is close my eyes and stand absolutely still. That way, I can always sense where you guys are."
Although it didn't make a whole lot of sense, Taichi and Yamato took her words and attempted to give it a quick shot. Taking a deep breathe and shutting their eyes, they stood as still as statues, hoping to get a better understanding to what Sora meant.
"It's not working." said Taichi impatiently.
"Sorry, Sora. But I don't see how this helps." Yamato wasn't getting anything either.
"You two are so funny!" Sora couldn't help hide her grins to see how spaced out the boys looked. "I wish I'd brought my camera to take a photo of this!"
The three went to relax by the calm lake, removing their shoes and socks to cool their aching feet in the chilling water. They sat back, letting the grass dance away with the guidance of the wind. Today had been long but playful. They could tell that tomorrow was going to be another hard day fighting new Digimon, bent on destroying the world like so many. It was tiresome, but every adventure led the Chosen Children to learning new things. Taichi and Yamato had learned to put their troublesome rivalry aside and become close friends. Sora had learned how much she loved Piyomon, and just how much love her mother held for her. As sunset befell upon the Digital World, Taichi pointed out at the stars, glittering in the oceanic sky on a full moon.
"Make a wish, Sora!" Taichi gave her a forceful nudge on the shoulder. "Who do you think you're destined to marry, me or Yamato?"
"Don't ask her that." Yamato told him off, delivering a silly slap on the head for his cheek.
In fact, Sora didn't make any wish…
"Say, you want to play one more round before we call it a day?" she said, hopping excitedly onto her feet, still with enough energy to last a few more hours. "This time, I'll hide!"
The boys couldn't agree more and nodded their heads.
…
"Ninety-eight…ninety-nine…one hundred! Ready or not, here we come!"
Like the speed of a starting gun, Taichi and Yamato raced into the forest to track down Sora. To make things more competitive and worthwhile, Sora promised to give a goodnight kiss to whoever found her first. But just as skilled as she was at finding people, no doubt that she was also a skilled hider.
Darkness fell quickly, and the boys had to resort to flashlights to resume their last game. Sora tried not to giggle in the bushes when she peeped at their feet striding past her.
"Where is she?" moaned Taichi, getting exhausted yet frustrated. "How could Sora hide from us for this long?"
"It's only been ten minutes." said Yamato, checking his watch. "It's getting kind of late. I'm sure we'll find her soon, or else we'll be here overnight."
Sora listened to their footsteps fading away as her eyes suddenly began to drop. She quietly crouched into a fetal position to rest…she could take as much time as she needed to be found….
…
An hour had passed since the game began, and Sora was fast asleep, still in her same hiding spot. Was it possible that the boys had left her, or perhaps gotten lost somewhere? None of that crossed her mind while she remained dreaming; she hoped one day to return safely home to her mother, waiting desperately for her. Now that was something she might have wished for…but just then, a strange shuffling was heard.
"I've found you!"
A hand lifted aside the blanket of thick leaves and Sora was forced to open her weary eyes. It was about time she headed back to regroup. Most likely her friends were worrying sick about her. Although it took her a while to note that it was neither Taichi nor Yamato who had actually discovered her. It was…
"YOU!" Sora gasped in shock before a pair of hands covered her mouth.
"GOTCHA!"
…
"Taichi and Yamato spent the whole night scouring the forest. By the next morning, we soon realized that Sora was missing. Word spread out quickly. Some Digimon willingly volunteered to help us, while others who couldn't be well trusted were forcedly run down and questioned. Day after day, we tracked through every soil of land and sailed across every living sea to find any possible leads. But with all the stones unturned, we found nothing. No one had seen any trace of Sora. Then came the day we departed from the Digital World without her…a horrible decision we all had to make. For three agonizing years, Sora's loss still continued to haunt many who refused to believe she was dead…until one day…"
