AngelCross:

Binding Darkness

Chapter 1.4: Forget the Party

Iori, with a coat in hand, met the group just outside the apartment building. Between arriving there and waiting for the elevator, the only words exchanged were brief inquiries about if everyone was all right. But as they waited for the elevator, Takeru heard a brief mutter from Miyako about having to physically check-in with her family, followed by an offer to tag along from Ken.

The elevator doors dinged open, and everyone save Miyako, Hawkmon, Ken, and Wormmon crammed in. Takeru turned and winked at Miyako. "Don't take your time walking there." The lavender-haired girl turned as red as Hawkmon's feathers. The elevator doors shut.

Davis folded his arms. "What was that about?"

"You really can't see that?" asked the stranger, tugging at the ends of the too-short sweater. Davis stared at him with a blank expression. Takeru snickered. Tokomon and Iori sighed.

Davis looked to his partner, asking if the little lizard knew what they were going off about. Veemon simply shrugged. From when the elevator doors opened to arriving at the apartment door, Davis pleaded with the three all of them to explain what was going on. "Maybe later, Davis." Takeru grinned at his friend's groan and opened the door. "The phone is free for you to use."

Davis stuck out his tongue. "TJ, I was already planning on jacking your phone to call my dad." Then, the maroon-haired boy smiled and gave his friend a thumbs-up. "Thanks, though."

After discarding his coat, Takeru went to the kitchen to make hot chocolate. Iori joined him as the Davis, the guest, Veemon, and Tokomon headed for the living room. After filling the kettle, Iori turned off the faucet and said in a low voice, "Our guest is really strange."

"What do you mean?" Takeru looked up from his task of putting the mugs onto the island to study his friend's furrowed brows and downcast eyes.

"Well...you said he just arrived."

"In the middle of the street."

Iori's eyebrows furrowed lower as he turned on the stove burner. "I was thinking he might have somehow traveled through the Digital World, but it doesn't make sense if he just appeared in the middle of the street. The main portals to the Digital World besides the computers have mostly been closed off right?"

"Yeah...you're right there, Iori," said Takeru, pulling the hot chocolate mix from the cabinet and placing it on the counter. "But a lot of portals have opened and closed over the years. A portal could have opened right there." He paused for a second, leaning against the counter. "But, it looks like he's never seen a digimon before."

The younger digidestined nodded. "It doesn't make much sense for someone who has gone to the Digital World to not see digimon there. His convenient arrival doesn't make as much sense either."

The blond turned back to filling the mugs with the hot chocolate powder. "Hey, what if he's from another dimension? Like the Dark Ocean and the Dream World? There might be a better reason why he appeared right there."

Iori nodded. "It would make a little more sense..."

"Hey, didn't your mother teach you it's bad manners to talk about people behind their backs?" The two digidestined looked to see the silver-haired boy leaning against the other side of the island with raised his eyebrows.

"How about yours and eavesdropping?" Takeru capped the tin.

The guest shrugged before marching around the island and into the kitchen. "That over your friend bugging me about how I got Soul Eater."

Before either could ask, Davis raced to the kitchen, exclaiming, "Dude, dude, dude!" The last word continuing as he slid passed the kitchen and into the hallway until it was cut off by a soft thud and a louder curse. The guest sighed. Takeru held back a chuckle in favor of putting away the tin. Padding footsteps accompanied Veemon's question of "Davis, you okay?" Within seconds, Davis parked himself at the opening to the kitchen with sparkling eyes and a goofy grin.

"Hey, Davis, can you help Iori finish this off while I call my mom?"

Davis exclaimed something about being a guest, but the blond ignored it and passed the maroon-haired boy to get to the living room. Takeru picked up the phone and dialed his mother's work phone before sitting down on the couch. One ring later, she picked up.

"Takeru? Takeru, is that you?" Ms. Takaishi asked, voice shaky.

The blond's voice kept light. "Yeah, it's me, Mom. Are you all right?"

She sighed. Her voice steadied but became a little airy as she said, "I heard there were monster attacks in Minato, and I just knew you'd get yourself into the middle of it. I thought that was over with years ago..."

Takeru paused. Could he really tell her about the creatures not being digimon? He exchanged looks with Tokomon, but the little creature gave him an unsure look. Takeru grimaced at the thought of her chewing him out later if she wasn't filled in now...

"Takeru?"

"Um, Mom...they weren't digimon."

Her end went silent.

A wrapping sound halted the silence and whatever conversation was going on in the kitchen. Takeru covered the receiver and exchanged glances with Tokomon. The little creature leaped from the couch's back and made his way to the kitchen to alert someone to open the door. Takeru uncovered the receiver and asked, "Mom?"

"What did they look like?"

"Um...they were a lot of different colors and shapes..." Takeru paused, rubbing the back of his neck. "I think I've—"

"Stay home, Takeru." The boy blinked, taken back by her hard tone. It softened as she continued, "I'll call your father and Yamato to make sure they're okay. Just...stay there."

Takeru furrowed his brows. "Mom—?"

"Stay home. I'll be home in an hour or so. There's some leftovers in the fridge." Then, she added softly, "I'm sorry this happened on your birthday."

"What—" The long dial tone rung in his ears, cutting off all questions Takeru wanted to ask. He put the phone back on it's mount. "Something isn't right..."

"What do you mean?"

Takeru stiffened. Ken stood against the wall, holding Wormmon in his arms. The blond relaxed. "Oh, my mom said some weird things..." He adjusted his sitting position and studied his friend's drooping eyes and slouching posture. "But are you okay? Did Miyako's family wear you out with their enthusiasm?"

"Not really. They're not as overbearing as my parents when they worry." Ken placed Wormmon on the back of the couch and rubbed his eyes. "I just haven't been able to sleep much lately."

"Ken, don't make it like that!" said Wormmon, turning back to his partner and waving his front legs. "Those nightmares have been keeping you up all week!"

Takeru's head snapped up. "What kind of nightmares?" His voice spat out the words faster and harder than he intended.

Ken stepped back, then studied the back of the couch. "I-I think it's the Dark Ocean again...nothing really happens in them. I'm just wandering along the beach and...I swear, sometimes, I see things lurking in the ocean." He paused. "Sometime, I'm not alone...I met a cobalt-haired woman there once."

Takeru turned his blue eyes to the couch padding with an exhale of "Nothing like mine."

"What do you-?"

"Ken's been dreaming of a blue-haired girl?" Davis elbowed his DNA evolution partner in the side, causing Ken to jump and flush. "Heh, nice man. If only I was that lucky."

Ken readjusted his balance and forced a light smirk. "Davis, you're luck is more like miracles: hard to come by and not always reliable."

Davis opened his mouth to exclaim something, but Miyako shouted something about his luck also not helping with getting out of tasks. The maroon-haired boy pursed his lips and muttered.

Iori, Miyako, and Hawkmon came in with a few platters of hot chocolate with the guest following close behind. After placing them on the coffee table, the humans and digimon retrieved mugs and positioned themselves on furniture or the ground.

The guest took a sip from his mug and sputtered. After he muttered to himself about it being to hot, he put the cup back down. "So, where are we?"

Davis leaned forward with a puzzled gaze. "How come ya don't know that this is Odaiba? And it's pretty rude to not give your name, dude."

The corners of the guests lips twitched upwards. "I could say the same for you guys," he replied. "My name is Riku. I've been traveling..." Pausing, he pointed to Tokomon, who had fallen partially asleep next to Takeru. "What exactly are these things? They kind of look like moogles."

Veemon coughed before jabbing a thumb at himself. "We're digimon, not whatever thosemoogies We come from the Digital World."

"So, Odaiba and the Digital World..." Riku leaned back and tilted his head up. "So, then I won't have to explain the world Order stuff to you guys if you already know about other worlds."

Ken cocked his head. "What is—?"

"Other questions?"

"Well then, Riku, what were those things that attacked the city?" Miyako inquired, shifting her weight.

"And where did you get that sword? I so want one!" Davis chirped in.

"Those...things are Heartless, born out of the darkness in people's hearts." Riku tapped at the left side of his chest. "They seek out and consume hearts, even seeking the hearts of worlds, plunging them into darkness and..." He glared at the ground and hunched over to grab his cup from the table.

Takeru bit the insides of his mouth and exhaled through his nose. "This happened to your home?" he asked, voice hard.

"Yes."

Davis frowned before cautiously blowing on his steaming mug. "Then, what happened to your friends?"

Riku remained silent. Several seconds passed.

Iori murmured, "I'm sorry..."

"No need for you to be." He took a quick swig of the hot chocolate and winced. "We just have to be sure your world doesn't follow the same path."

The rest of the group nodded.

"Then, your sword isn't something that you got to help fight those Heartless-things and help save worlds like a hero?" Davis asked.

Riku scowled at his cup.

"It's not you're fault then." Takeru glared at the platter of mugs, at the dark purple designs spinning around the gray plastic. "It's the darkness after all."

A short silence enveloped the room. The blond looked up and met the several curious gazes, some of which turned away. The only one who didn't look up at him was Iori, who instead sipped his hot chocolate, and Tokomon, who was asleep by Takeru's feet.

The door bell buzzed.

Chatter picked back up as Takeru marched from the room and peeked out the apartment door's peephole. Outside, Matt, Sora, Jyou, and their digimon partners with a colorful bag. The blond opened the door, and they filed in and gave him a "Happy Birthday" as they passed. Takeru blinked and absently took the gift bag from Sora.

"What's with that look?" asked Gomamon from Jyou's school bag.

Sora took the gift bags from both Takeru and Jyou as she smiled. "We wouldn't miss your birthday, even if the world was under attack."

Takeru smiled before Matt ruffled his little brother's hair. "Do you really think Mom's warning of monster attacks will keep us away?"

"Of course not, Matt. You wouldn't even notice an entire army under your feet or a double-sided coin being used to get your baseball cards." The younger blond grinned, causing his elder brother to give him a nuggie as revenge.

The two went to the living room, now brimming with activity and conversation. Takeru slipped away from his brother and watched the room with a delighted smile as the chatter warmed the room, almost banishing the memories of the events of barely even an hour ago. He leaned against the wall as he watched Miyako marching away from a befuddled Davis. Matt, Sora, and Hawkmon talked to Riku on the living room furniture. Veemon and Gabumon arm wrestled on the dinning room table. Tokomon napped in a corner. Takeru gave a heavy sigh.

Then the phone rang. Matt—being the closest to the phone—answered it. After a few quick words, the elder blond hung it up and rose. "Takeru, pull the plug on the computer!"

Takeru furrowed his brows, but did as he was told. The chatter quieted as all eyes focused on Matt, asking him why the computer needed to be unplugged. As Takeru left the room for his mother's study, he heard his brother say something about the monsters getting into the Human world by computer.

Heartless are in the Digital World. Takeru quickly logged into the ancient computer and pulled out his digivice. He held the device up to the screen and said, "DigiPort, open." The black window unfolded from the start menu, but the little-frame that depicted a scene from the Digital World remained fuzzy. He clicked the map icon to change locations, but the program opened an error box. The blond frowned before he tried again. Each reboot of the program ended with the same error box of unreadable Digital World glyphs. Defeated, Takeru shut off and unplugged the computer.

Upon returning to the living room, both the TV and a radio blared news and music, occasionally changing to a new cacophony of clashing melodies and cheesy dialogue. Takeru resided himself to the wall again, barely paying attention to the radio adds or the TV shows or the digimon discussing the creatures or the sliding door or Miyako and Iori racing out of the apartment or Riku going out onto the terrace. Instead his mind buzzed about the Heartless, computers, and the Digital World. His hands curled into fists. Hikari was at the junior high school in Minato, which had the most computers he had ever seen in one place. The school's not too far from where we first saw the Heartless. They might have used a new portal. He shook his head. Kari's with Gatomon. Tai is probably with her now...or she's on her way to her home. Maybe—

"Dang it, Tai, could you pick up your phone?" Takeru turned his head to Davis's pouting face. The maroon-haired boy dialed again and brought it up to his ear. A few seconds later, he grumbled and put down his phone. "Even, Kari."

Both of them sighed, lowering their head.

Twenty minutes passed. Davis knocked his knuckles against the wall, and Takeru tapped his foot the entire time. With every passing moment, the blond's eyes flickered to the open hallway and the door obscured by the wall he leaned against. He thought about going out with Tokomon to see if he couldn't meet her halfway or head off to her apartment building. But then he remembered Tokomon was still only Tokomon, so he might not have the energy needed to evolve into Angemon or Pegasusmon yet. Takeru's eyes shut and thought about asking Riku to go with them to find her.

Then, the door bell buzzed. Takeru's breathe caught and mind cleared. He bounded to the door and, without pause, opened the door to the rosy-cheeked Yagami siblings with Agumon and Gatomon glancing about. A dark man in an oil-stained jumpsuit stood farther into the hallway. The blond gave them a gaping smile. "Hikari, Taichi!"

"Sorry for being late," Tai said, putting a hand on Hikari's shoulder. "We kept running in to those damn Heartless-things."

Takeru nodded before looking towards Hikari, who looked down at her feet. Takeru restrained from reaching out to her and said, "At least you got here safe."

"No love for the digimon, TK?" asked Gatomon, slinking over to him and swatting the boy on the knees.

"Yeah, what are we, chopped brains?" The orange lizard digimon grinned.

Takeru rubbed his nose. "Sorry about that, Gatomon and Agumon."

Hikari passed him first, a gold ring clenched in her hands. The cat digimon followed and swatted him lightly with her ringless tail. Tai and Agumon followed them, both offering a "happy birthday." The man stepped inside last and took off his shoes. As the man did so, Takeru craned his head to study his face.

"Hey...sir?"

The addressed lowered his gaze to meet the Takeru's.

Takeru blinked for a moment. "Ahh...Have I met you before?"

The man studied him curiously with a raised eyebrows and a mouth formed into an "o." A few seconds passed, before he awkwardly bowed. "I apologize for not asking to come in before barging in. I'm still not so good with this world's mannerisms. My name is Torstein Herrman."

Takeru shook his head, trying to search his memory for any man named Torstein Herrman. Who am I kidding, he thought before bowing back. "Nice to meet you. My name is Takeru Takaishi, but call me TK."

"All right...TK." He looked around before walking to the living room.

The blond folded his arms and studied the man's straightened posture and slow tread. Why had I thought I knew him...? Mom said weird things, and then there's this weird feeling. And those dreams I had...Oh well, I guess. Takeru shut the door before following the bald man into the overcrowded living room.

Sora had continued flipping through the channels, clipping off dramas and news reports. Matt, Ken, Wormmon, and Jyou crowded around the island and obscured the radio. Several of the digimon had crowded Agumon, most likely asking about the Heartless he had fought. Davis, Tai, Hikari, and Gatomon sat around the dinning room table. The brunette's face was turned down as the others talked.

The blond walked over to them just as Davis said, "Yeah, we saw 'em too. Pretty cool and nasty guys aren't they?"

"I wouldn't say they're cool, Davis," responded Tai, folding his arms. "Those things are nasty, but also unpredictable. Their movement is so animal-like; it's unlikely they were functioning on their own."

"I don't think anybody's controlling them," Hikari said, her voice low. "We may have fought digimon that wanted to get us, but none of them who were under control would just randomly steal someone's heart." She shivered and bowed her head lower. Gatomon reached out a paw and rubbed circles through the girl's sweater sleeve.

"Steal someone's heart? You make it sound as if someone had died," Takeru said, leaning against the table. He grimaced, seeing her shoulders moving closer together and Tai's features darkened.

"D-did someone?" Davis asked, resting a hand on her shoulder.

Takeru's heart sank as she didn't answer. The brunette rose. "I-I need some air," she said, forcing a smile. "It's pretty stuffy in here, isn't it?"

The blond rose, also offering a smile. "We made some hot chocolate, but it looks like we didn't make enough. Would you guys like some?"

The girl nodded. Gatomon asked for milk. Davis offered to help. The boys scooted into the kitchen passed the four listening to the radio.

"Hey, TA, where's the marshmallows Kari likes?" asked Davis.

Takeru grabbed a mug and turned on the hot water. "Which do you want? The ones made into letters?" He filled the mug and turned off the faucet.

"Well, it's easier than getting a card," murmured Davis.

Takeru sighed, putting the mug on the counter, before grabbing the bag of marshmallows from a cupboard to his right. "If what Riku said is right, those things are made of Darkness. How in the world can you want something made of that?"

"Dude, what's your problem? Afraid of the dark or something?"

The blond slammed the faucet off and glared at his friend. How could he properly explain all the darkness had done? How too much of it sends the Digital World into chaos? How so many of their enemies had used the powers of darkness? How the Dark Ocean had almost taken Hikari? How Devimon—?

"You could say that." Takeru tossed the maroon-haired boy the bag. He looked away, noticing Jyou and Matt turning their attention back to the radio. The blond grimaced.

"TK, I need to talk to you for a second." Torstein stood in the hallway, with his arms folded. He indicated his head toward the foyer.

Takeru nodded before telling Davis, "Don't forget Gatomon's milk."

"I won't," spat Davis.

The blond went to join the bald man in the foyer, a little bit farther away from the racket. On his way, Takeru tossed all his murky and lingering thoughts about darkness from his mind, but some still clung. So, Takeru instead turned his focus to what Torstein had to say. "Yes, Mr. Herrman?"

"Unfortunately, Nancy won't be happy about this." He exhaled and glanced to the door, as if he already regretted his decision.

"What do you mean by that? And how do you know my mother?" Takeru paused. "...I have met you before?"

The man nodded. He held out his left hand, and a pillar of light with cascading stars appeared in his hand momentarily. Then, the light morphing into a key-shaped sword. "Yes, I met you and your mother a long time ago. I made her a promise to not come here unless this was to happen again."

Takeru's eyes widened. "This? The Heartless."

Torstein nodded. "Six years ago, Heartless came to this world. I managed to keep them away for a while, but this world's natural barrier is crumbling." He paused, eyes glaring at the weapon in his hand as if it was a useless hunk of metal. "A long time ago, I chose you as my heir to this...legacy." He spat out the last word. Takeru furrowed his brows, but nodded for the man to continue. "The legacy of the Keyblade will help save this world and protect others from Heartless, but—"

"I'll do it."

Torstein sighed, flicking his wrist and the blade disappeared into shimmering light and into a chain around his wrist. He trudged to the edge where the hallway met the living room. Takeru followed. "Everyone in this room had saved this world, and that other one."

"You know of the Digital World?" Takeru peeked up at the man's expression.

Torstein smiled slightly and pinched his fingertips together. "But, being who you are is different from being a wielder of the Keyblade."

Takeru focused his gaze about the room. "If I can't save my world, it would forever haunt me, like how it does for Riku...and you?"

"Who is Riku?" Torstein looked down at the blond. Takeru told the man about the off-worlder. As he talked, the blond found it almost strange how easily talking to this stranger was. How come he didn't remember Torstein at all? Takeru's mind flipped through possibilities of short meetings that wouldn't stick to an eight- or nine-year-old's memory. No...I'm sure I...

Takeru closed his mouth before reopening it. Then closed it. What was I about to ask...?

Torstein looked ready to ask a question himself, but then he turned away.

A few moments later, the door creaked open. "Takeru, I'm home! Traffic was—"

Both Takeru and Torstein turned back to see Ms. Takaishi staring at the two with a shoe halfway off.

"Welcome back, Mom," said the blond.

The bald man sighed. "...Hello, Nancy."

Ms. Takaishi kicked her other shoe off before marching over to him. "I thought you said you'd stay away." Both Takeru and Torstein stepped back as she closed in.

"I did promise that," said the man, leaning back and looking away. "As long as the Heartless didn't return."

Takeru backed into the closed wall and studied Torstein and his mother. She stared up at him with narrowed eyes. Despite the height difference, Torstein looked just about ready to back away at any moment form Ms. Takaishi.

"And?" She clutched the strap to her work bag.

He looked her square in the eye with a hard expression. "There was no extra clause to that promise, Nancy. I will keep that one."

Takeru furrowed his brows. Another promise? He looked at his mother. "Mom, what does that mean?"

The blonde woman tucked locks of her hair behind her ears as she leaned back. She exhaled a steady breathe. "You really haven't changed."

Torstein nodded. The man's oil-stained hand momentarily reached out for her calloused one, but then drew back. Takeru's eyes grew wide. There was no way he couldn't remember— The blond boy rubbed his head. The two adults looked over at him. "What...?"

"I will leave now." Torstein gave a short bow before walking passed her. He stopped, then turned back and fished something from his pocket. He handed it to Takeru and left without another word.

x

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And now, we're at 1.4, and it falls in-line with the middle of the original chapter two. The first half is very similar, but I added a few things. This last half though, I'm decently fond of...or at least the idea. Torstein and Nancy's interactions have changed vastly since the original draft, and I'm actually happy about that: in the original, she just yells at him to leave, and he does so accordingly. Here...well, you can see it.

And the dub dialogue is fun to reference.