LOSS AND GAIN
By milesprower06
Chapter 2 – Déjà Vu
"Guilmon!!!"
Taomon's Talisman of Light shoved BlackWarGreymon back toward the portal, but it was going to need more push. Rapidmon took aim.
"Rapid fire!" he called out his attack, and two missiles homed in and hit BlackWarGreymon, knocking him back through the portal. Rika immediately aimed her D-Arc, and a bright blue beam shot out and hit the portal, forcing it to decrease in size and eventually close.
Rapidmon and Taomon reverted back to their rookie levels. "Takato!" Rika yelled, running toward him. He was on the ground, but appeared conscious. When she knelt down next to him, he didn't notice her. "Takato…?" she asked. Henry came closer and knelt down. He took out his flashlight, turned it on, and turned it toward Takato's eyes. His pupils were almost completely contracted. He felt for his pulse.
"He's in shock" Henry diagnosed. "But why?" Rika asked. That's when Henry first noticed someone was missing. "Where's Guilmon?" he asked. They looked around the room. There was no sign of him. They thought back to the battle that just took place. BlackWarGreymon had attacked with the Terra Destroyer three times. The first one Guilmon avoided; the second one Takato dove to the floor; and the third…
"No…" Rika said, barely above a whisper. Not again. Not Takato. Renamon and Terriermon stood next to their respective tamers, but they too showed concern for Takato and the apparent fate of his partner.
"Guilmon…" Takato whispered, but otherwise was completely silent. "Takato, can you hear me?" Henry asked. Takato gave no reply. "He'll eventually snap out of it. Come on, we've gotta go" Henry said. "But-" Rika began to say. "There's nothing more we can do here. We can help him back home" he said. The two of them helped Takato up, and he was still somewhat conscious, as he stood and walked on his own. Darkness flooded the halls as the sun went below the horizon outside. Rika and Henry grabbed their flashlights and switched them on. They made their way out of the tomb and back into the desert night. It was a good deal colder, so they hurried back several miles to the airfield. The plane and pilot were waiting. He opened the passenger door, and was about to open the cargo hold, when he noticed that Guilmon wasn't there.
"Hey, where's the red-"
Rika immediately gave him a 'drop it' look, and shook her head. The pilot said no more, and they got on the plane. The engine started up, the plane took off, and they were on their way back home. Rika sat next to Takato the entire way home, in case he came out of shock. He did not. He sat silent the whole way home. When they landed in Shinjuku, they all debarked, and Takato, even in his current state, apparently knew his way home. He left without a word. Neither Rika nor Henry slept well that night. The last thing they wanted was a repeat of what happened to Jeri.
First thing the next morning, Rika phoned the Matsuki residence. Takato's mom answered, and she asked for Takato. She said he hadn't stirred since last night, and didn't think he was in any condition to talk to anyone, and that she'd call Rika if there was any change. Rika thanked her, and hung up. Henry called her, and she told him what Mrs. Matsuki told her. They both felt uneasy. But, with what happened to Jeri, they had faith that his parents would keep a close eye on him.
Rika didn't hear anything for three days. On the third day after they got back, Rika got a call from his mom asking her to come over. She went over there right away. She knocked on the front door. Takato's mom answered the door. "Rika. Thanks for coming." she said. "Mrs. Matsuki" Rika greeted. The two of them went to the dining room and sat down at the table. His mom got right to the point.
"He hasn't spoken a word since he got back. He hasn't come out of his room; he's barely eaten anything. He's hardly slept at all; he keeps on having nightmares. I'm worried sick about him. When he came back without Guilmon, I assumed what happened." she said. There was a pause. Rika looked down at the table, breaking eye contact with his mom, and slowly nodded, confirming what happened in Egypt. "We all know what happened to Jeri. I thought it best to call you" she said. Rika nodded. "I'll do the best I can." she said. "Thank you" his mom replied. Rika slowly got up and walked up the stairs to Takato's closed bedroom door. She knocked softly. "Takato?" she asked. With no reply, she slowly opened the door. The light was off, but the sun provided some dim light. She immediately saw Takato in bed, still in his clothes, half curled up, facing the wall. "Hey, Takato. How are you feeling?" she asked. The single window, usually open, was closed, so the bustling noise usually heard was shut out, and the room was left eerily silent.
Takato didn't reply. She slowly walked over to his bedside, and knelt down. She put a hand on his shoulder. He rolled over and looked at her. Rika was taken slightly aback.
He looked awful; like someone who hadn't slept or eaten in three days. "Let's get you something to eat." she said. "Not hungry" he replied dully. "Well, you should at least try and get some sleep" she suggested. "Can't sleep. It's the same nightmare again and again." he said. "Takato, I know it hurts now, but-" Takato rolled back over. "Staying in here forever won't bring him back." Rika said. Takato quickly rolled back over toward her and sat up. "I know that! He's gone!" he yelled at her. Suddenly, he looked uneasy.
His eyes widened. This was the breaking point. He had to hear himself say it. "He's…he's gone" he said softer. Tears fell from his eyes. "He's gone, Rika" he said again, his voice shaking now. Rika sat down next to him on the bed and hugged him. He broke down, sobbing on her shoulder. She sat there and embraced him while he let out the loss of his friend. Rika couldn't imagine how this felt. And she hoped she never did.
After several minutes, Takato calmed down considerably. He stood up with Rika. "Alright, let's go downstairs. Your mom's really worried about you." she said. He sniffled, nodded, and followed her downstairs. His mom was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. She hugged him. "Are you alright, kiddo?" she asked. "I don't know," he replied, returning the embrace. "I'm…sorry I shut you out" he apologized. "Don't worry about it, hon. Listen, you take as much time as you need to deal with this. If you ever need us, we're here for you" she said. "Thanks for coming by, Rika" Mrs. Matsuki told her. "Don't mention it. I'll stick around, if it's alright with you" she said. "It's fine with me if it's fine with you, Takato" his mom said. Takato nodded. "I'll get some lunch started" Mrs. Matsuki said.
Takato's mom prepared a quick lunch. They all sat down at the dining room table and started their meal. Takato ate slowly and silently, but nonetheless ate. When they were done, Mrs. Matsuki continued baking, and Rika and Takato went back up to his room. They didn't really do much of anything, but Rika didn't mind at all – right now, all Takato needed was friends by his side. When dusk neared, Rika decided that she'd better be headed home. On her way out the door, Takato called after her. "Hey, Rika?" he asked. "Yeah?" she replied. "Would you like to come by tomorrow?" he asked. "Sure. See you tomorrow, then" she said, and left. She was happy that Takato asked her to come over tomorrow; it was a sign that he wasn't shutting himself away – but she was also praying he wasn't putting on an act like Jeri did…
