A/N: Thank you very much for continuing to read my first fanfic! ^_^ (special thanks to Bookworm Gal for her review. My first!) This one's quite a bit longer than the first chapter, but I think it's a lot more interesting, too. Just in case you're wondering, the title is a reference to the second article in the prologue. Happy reading! :)
Chapter Two: The Daughter of Heaven and Earth
"We think she may have torn her ACL, but we can't be sure until the MRI results come back."
"When will that be, doctor?"
"I expect them to be done no later than tomorrow morning."
"And until then?"
"Until then, all we can do is wait and make her as comfortable as possible."
Comfortable? This was as comfortable as I was going to get! The nurses had already strung my leg up tightly, and the amount of ice on my knee could've made another Arctic Circle right there. But no amount of comfort could make me feel any better about myself, or what had occurred merely hours before.
It had happened so fast, I can only recall snippets of the whole thing. What exactly did I do anyway? In the swirling chatter that I supposed was my mother and my attending physician discussing my current state, I deciphered that something had happened at the girls' soccer game that morning. That's something I do remember. The sun amidst the blue sky smiling down on us, the cool breeze flowing into my face, the adrenaline rush throughout my body, my heart pounding in my chest…
There it was. The goal was less than five meters away. The ball and I were closing in quickly, too quickly for the opposing team to catch either of us. A quick glance at the scoreboard revealed that the scores were tied. It was in my sight. I saw it before me. I was going to score the winning goal for my team.
We would win.
I carefully and calculatingly aimed my kick, like only an ace striker could, and with all my might, struck that blur of black and white, but it looked more like gray after what I did to that thing. I faintly remember smiling.
That was the last thing I could recall distinctly.
The next thing I knew, I felt a strong force hit me from the left. My left leg gave out from beneath me, and I felt a sickening crunch as I was pummeled from every direction except up. No, scratch that. Something fell on top of me after that. At least, I think something did. Like I said, it's all a blur, even now.
I can't even remember riding the ambulance to the hospital. The pain was so great, all I could think - or do - was to try and get it to go away, but no matter what I did, the searing agony in my lower body remained. I was drifting in and out of consciousness after they gave me a painkiller, but it was no good. Whenever I became aware of my surroundings again, I could still feel something bothering me immensely. For that entire night - even as my mother stayed by my bedside, routinely calling my father on another of his research trips to give him updates on my condition - I felt like I was floating in a matter-less abyss, sensing only pain, loneliness, and anxiety.
Only once did I feel peace overcome me; maybe that was the point when I finally fell asleep from exhaustion. I saw that I was standing on the soccer field again, a green blanket painted with white, a witness to numerous instances of glory, honor, triumph, and tears, shame, failure as well. But only for a moment was I standing. The next thing that happened swept me off my feet. Literally. I felt my weightless body rising slowly into the atmosphere. My first thoughts were that I had died, and my soul was now rising into heaven. Before I could further entertain this thought, however, I found myself being passed by a flock a birds, and almost by instinct, I followed them. We flew on and kept on flying, flying like a spirit freed from its earthly bounds. I was right. I was in heaven.
I was free.
"Oi Sora! Can you stay after for soccer club today?"
Takenouchi Sora carefully placed her recorder in her school satchel as she turned to face her soccer-crazed best friend, Yagami Taichi.
"Taichi, you know I'm not part of the soccer club anymore," she replied calmly with a forced smile. Still, even nearly a year later, those words stung her heart like a thousand sharpened needles being driven ever so slowly. "Anyway, I have to practice for the music test tomorrow, as should you, Taichou."
Taichi laughed proudly at the nickname he had earned from the new club members following his performance at the year's first meeting a few weeks ago.
"Heh, soccer captains don't need to learn music!" he scoffed. "Music to my ears is the sound of a roaring crowd cheering me on. But," he continued as he looked at Sora straight in the eye, "my performance isn't complete without my best striker by my side. C'mon! We really need you out there!"
"Taichi," Sora began reasoning with him, "I… I just can't, not today." The simple fact that she was no longer a member of the soccer club wasn't the only thing holding her back, though. Ever since her accident last summer, she had been forbidden from playing soccer ever again. Oh, she didn't mind playing behind her mother's back here and there, but Sora knew all too well; if she returned home late on a day she didn't have tennis club, her mother would question what she had been up to that she couldn't reach home promptly. She most certainly didn't want to lie about it; of course, she wasn't very good at lying in the first place. Still, the offer to play soccer was so very tempting.
"Please?" Taichi began begging, something he did only when he really, truly wanted something. "Please Sora? You haven't played with us for a long time. The game's not the same without you."
She began opening her mouth to reply but stopped herself before anything could be said. What was she thinking? Of course she couldn't say yes!
"Taichi-"
"Please! Sora, I'm begging you!"
"Well…"
Please lower your voice or the flowers will wilt… Her mother's words nagged her from a distance.
"I'd love to, but…"
"Then you'll come play!"
I like soccer more than flowers! Her exact words at that time…
"It sounds nice, but don't you already have enough members? I wouldn't want to boot anyone out."
"Eh, it's okay. Motomiya's not here today anyway."
"Motomiya? You mean that second-rate, B-grade striker from class 2-B?" Both friends grinned widely at the epithet they had given to the clumsiest "ace striker" of the new members.
"Yup! I could really use a replacement for my disciple right about now. Actually, I'll take a replacement for him any day!" he laughed.
How can you call yourself my daughter?
"You're on, Taichou!"
"Sora-senpai! Here!"
Sora ran with all her might as one of the younger members passed the ball across the field. Even with the spring wind splashing against her face and the blinding sunlight piercing her eyes, she could see it clearly. Someone from the other team was closing in quickly from behind her. If she couldn't intercept it before he reached her, most likely she would lose the ball, and all her team's efforts to transport the black-and-white checkered mass to their side of the field would be for naught.
She planted her right foot straight into the ground, pivoted, and took off running toward the ball. The opposing boy quickly read her movements, however, and swiftly re-angled his run alongside her. Sora gritted her teeth together. Even if she was the only girl in school who could keep up with the best of the boys in this sport, it was her everyday tennis shoes against his cleats. It was too close to tell.
"Oi! Sora!"
Taichi's voice!
With one quick glance, she saw her fellow striker coming up on the other side of the field. Almost telepathically, she understood what he was thinking. Back in the day, it was called the Yagami-Takenouchi Super Smash Combo. They could pull it off again.
With the ball now a meter away and quickly closing the gap between them, Sora, now accelerating at amazing speeds, shifted her center of gravity downward. As her body hit the prickly grass, she kicked the ball from a lower angle, sending the ball upwards and headed straight for Taichi. As the opposing boy stopped short of tripping over her, she saw as Taichi - with one powerful sweep - sent the airborne ball bounding toward the goal. She smiled.
This is where I bel-
Before she could finish her train of thought, something unexpected happened. The ball - raging onward uncontrollably with the spin Taichi's kick had added - never reached the dirtied net. Instead, as it bounced sharply to the side just before the boundary of the goal, the goalkeeper leapt for it and successfully intercepted it, rolling like a ball himself as he tried to slow down. Sora was absolutely amazed. No one - not anyone - had ever stopped her and Taichi's combo before, much less a newbie. In the distance, she heard the club advisor blow the whistle.
"Nice job, everyone!" their teacher exclaimed. "Especially you, Ishida. What a save!"
Ishida Yamato, still holding the soccer ball under one arm, stood up and brushed some of the dirt off his body. He blushed a little at the compliment.
"Alright kids," their advisor continued, "I think it's about time for a break, so-"
"Kamamoto-sensei!" a girl wearing all pink yelled, running over to the soccer field. "Kamamoto-sensei, come quick!"
"What is it?"
"At the animal cages, something awful is happening! Hurry!"
"Ah, alright! Alright!" As the pink-clad girl began running again, Kamamoto-sensei turned to the soccer club. "Just take a water break and we'll start again whenever I get back."
"Kamamoto-sensei!"
"Okay, I'm coming!" he yelled back as he took off after the girl.
Sora jogged over to Taichi, who was standing in the same spot he received her pass.
"Isn't that girl from class 4-C?" she asked.
"Who cares," Taichi replied a little more curtly than usual after being blocked. Sora was startled.
"Are you all right, Taichi?"
"Of course I'm all right!" he bellowed back, probably much louder than he intended. Sora was about to scold him for yelling unnecessarily again, but she caught his gaze, locked on something beyond her. Only a split second later, she knew, and she sighed.
"Taichi…"
A chattering group of boys was walking in their direction. As they came closer, Sora could hear what they were saying.
"I mean wow! I never thought it was possible!"
"Of course it's possible! At least with Yamato-kun here!"
"I'm so glad you joined our club, Yamato-senpai! You're the best thing that's happened to us!"
"Oh… um, thanks," Yamato replied.
"Well, at least he's saying words now," Sora joked as she tried to brighten up the doom and gloom hanging about the air. Taichi, however, wasn't amused.
"Yeah, well, so what if he blocked my ultimate attack!" he scoffed loudly. Sora felt this one was intended to be heard by more than just her, however. The footsteps behind her stopped.
"Hey Taichou," one of the younger members called, "don't you think Yamato-senpai is amazing?"
"He's not all that great," Taichi muttered under his breath.
"Oh come on, Taichi-kun!" a sixth-year chimed in. "Admit it, I don't even think you could've blocked that yourself!"
"Oh come off it!" Taichi exploded as he stomped over to the sixth-year. "He's only been here a month, and suddenly you're all bowing down to him?" He pointed a finger angrily at his senior. "Just because you can't intercept a ball worth crap, you suddenly hail this newbie like he's a king or something! And it's really, really, really making me sick!"
"Oi!" Yamato cried out from the center of the crowd. Everyone jumped a bit; no one had ever heard him raise his voice like this before. "Fine by me if you can't stand me," he continued, "but don't you dare bring anyone else down because of your immaturity!"
"Oh, so the golden-haired mute does talk!" Taichi shot back.
"And it looks like spiky-headed screw-up Taichou has an ego as big as his hair!" Yamato's normally glazed-over eyes now displayed a fiery spirit, enflamed with anger.
"I am not a screw-up!"
"And I am not a mute!"
By now, the two boys were right in front of each, teeth bared like feral dogs ready to attack. The rest of the club stood frozen in a circle around them. A fight was about to break out, and without Kamamoto-sensei there, they had no idea what to do.
"Both of you stop it right now!" Sora yelled at them. After a few seconds, Taichi and Yamato backed down, neither looking at the other. An uncomfortable stillness hung in the air like a bad stench. After what seemed like hours, Yamato dropped the ball in front of Taichi.
"If you didn't want me in your club, then you shouldn't have invited me to join," Yamato stated with quiet rage. Without ever glancing up, he walked out of the circle and headed toward the school building. Everyone saw him run into Kamamoto-sensei on his way back from the animal cages - except Taichi, whose gaze was still angrily fixed on the lawn - and judging solely from Kamamoto-sensei's expression, they could tell. Yamato wasn't coming to club anymore.
The sun was already drifting closely to the horizon, dyeing the Western sky a bright orange. On the opposite side, the Eastern sky was being covered in a velvety haze, and the waxing gibbous moon shone dimly in the presence of its daytime counterpart. All this natural beauty only made Sora's heart beat faster though, as she raced through the streets of Odaiba.
I can't believe I forgot my bag! she bemoaned silently. Stupid Taichi!
Following that afternoon's fiasco, Sora had once again lectured her best friend about being nicer to the new kid, even if he had already been there a month. Of course, nothing could persuade the stubborn boy to think otherwise, even after she reminded him about his promise to befriend Yamato by inviting him to join soccer club. In summary, the two of them got into their own argument, ending with Sora telling Taichi that his stupid goggles were cutting off the circulation to his brain before stomping off in anger herself. Not wanting to face her mother in such a mood, Sora had wandered around Odaiba, unaware of where she was or how long she had been gone. It was only when she ended up in front of her apartment complex that she realized she had left her satchel in the classroom.
Please, please, please! Please! Let someone still be there!
The orange-haired girl grinned widely when she saw that the front gate was still open, and with it, the front door. She raced through the maze of hallways and staircases and soon found herself outside classroom 5-A, whose door slid open easily. She breathed a huge sigh of relief. In the middle of the room, now dyed the same deep orange as the setting sun, sat her satchel, right where she left it.
"Thank goodness!" she exclaimed as she scooped up her precious possession. Now her only worry was explaining to her mother why she was arriving home so late, but she had the walk home to decide on the perfect excuse. All she wanted to do at that moment was catch her breath.
In the stillness of after-school hours, Sora's ears perked up. Was that music? She was sure no one else was at the school; who else would be there this late? Then again, the front was open. Why wouldn't someone be there? But, why would someone be there?
Curiosity getting the better of her, Sora decided to investigate. Exiting the classroom, she closed her eyes to try and pinpoint the exact direction from which the sweet melody was coming. The timbre of the instrument was much clearer now; it was similar to something she had heard on a Western movie. Her music teacher called it… what was it called again? The name escaped her, but the tune was so sweet and sincere, calling out to someone, maybe her…
It stopped. Sora's eyes opened. No, she had to find out who the mystery musician was! Turning left, her legs carried her down the empty hall, her heart desperate to discover this music maker. Soon enough, she found a doorway wide open. Maybe, just maybe… yes, in here! It had to be here! Slowing down rapidly, she rounded the corner and made a mad dash into the open room.
Sora skidded to a halt. The classroom, also washed with orange, was empty, save for a small boy seated in the back. He was staring intently at a laptop propped up on his desk. At least, he had been, until the skidding noise of Sora's sneakers obviously interrupted his train of thought. He looked up abruptly, and his dark eyes met Sora's red ones.
"Oh, um," Sora stuttered, trying to avoid an awkward moment, "excuse me. I didn't know people were still here."
"Oh," the boy replied, quickly diverting his gaze. "No one else is here?"
"Well, club activities are done for the day."
"Really? It's that time already?" He frantically scanned for the classroom clock. Sora could see the sheer surprise in his eyes.
"Oh no," the boy muttered as he swiftly packed up his laptop, "I need to get home!" Within seconds, he was already making his way to the back door.
"Wait!" Sora yelled. The boy stopped in his tracks. He turned his head slightly, so that Sora could see his face but not meet his eyes.
"Yes?"
"Um, well… Did you hear music playing not too long ago?"
The boy's head turned even more. Their eyes met again, and once again, Sora felt like the fool, like she was saying something weird. Had she only imagined the music?
"You mean that harmonica?" the boy inquired. A light bulb turned on in Sora's mind.
"Yes! That's it!" she exclaimed, relieved that she hadn't just imagined it and wasn't going crazy.
"Yeah, I heard it," he answered nonchalantly, "but I don't know who it is, or where it's coming from, if that's what you wanted to know."
"Oh, I see," Sora said, a little disappointed. She then turned toward the front door, preparing to leave herself.
"Wait!" Sora turned around abruptly.
"Yes?"
Silence followed. The smaller boy looked as if he wanted to say something.
"Is something wrong?"
"No," he quickly said, "but…"
Sora began feeling antsy.
"If you're going to say something, please do it quickly." The clock indicated it was over three hours later than when Sora's mother expected her home.
"You're in class 5-A, right?"
"I am."
"And you're in the soccer club, right?"
"Well, I used to be. My best friend's team captain, though."
"Oh, I see."
Another awkward silence followed, while the clock kept ticking away. The setting sun was now red, a sight that made Sora sweat nervously.
"Well, if that's all, I'll see you around," she called to the boy, and with that, she dashed off toward the stairs.
As she made her way through the streets, Sora found herself thinking about the mysterious music she had heard. It couldn't have been her imagination; that other boy had heard it, too. And yet, the experience itself had felt like a dream - a very good dream, like the one she had when she had been hospitalized last summer. The very sound of it had lifted her soul, letting her look down on her earthly bounds and touch heaven once again. It had briefly granted her the freedom she desired, and she wanted more of it.
Set me free, she prayed.
A/N: When Taichi is asking Sora to play soccer, she's thinking back to the conversation she had with her mother in Episode 26 of Digimon Adventure ("Sora's Crest of Love"/"Shining Wings! Garudamon!"), just in case you didn't catch that reference ^_^' I used the dialogue from the original Japanese episode.