A/N:Update! This is for the prompt "sentence", number 2. Back to nano. Enjoy and let me know what you think!


7. A Realization Unintentionally Made

It was a little too early for visiting hours, but Akari hardly thought much of protocol. She had promised to wait until then to the nurse, but she hadn't even tried.

The blinds were almost closed, and what little light could illuminate the room shone mostly over the jagged marks of red on the walls. Taiki slept on, his breathing slow and barely audible in the quiet, softer than even the steady beeping of the heart monitor.

Stupid Mister Perfect, she thought fondly, and then there was a growl from the floor. Her blood chilled as in the dark, something rose from underneath the bed. Red eyes opened from the floor, all of them slithering towards her in a huddle, a body. It growled again and Akari felt hazily for the doorknob. She turned it and the creature lunged towards the noise.

"Shademon, stop," Taiki said suddenly. His voice was hoarse but he looked straight at Akari. "She's fine."

The thing slithered closer, sniffing, all eyes wide open and glaring at her like it could make her explode.. Akari squared her shoulders and scowled back until the thing slunk away, back under the hospital bed.

Akari was silent for a moment, then she cracked out. "I suppose that defeats the need for a guard dog."

Taiki made a croaking noise. Had he been screaming? "He only comes out at night, when I'm alone." He smiled. "Likes to make me crazy. I missed you."

"Parents wouldn't let me come."

"So you snuck here?" His voice was teasing. "Bad Akari."

"Ryouma says you're not doing well." She stepped towards him, cautious until she saw nothing move.

Taiki made a noise. "Well, I'm not exactly fantastic, but I'm better than he thinks, better than they think. Right now."

Something was off. "Are you getting better?"

He nodded. "Kind of. Something is happening that shouldn't, and it's not..." He licked his lips. "It's changing me. I probably won't remember this conversation in a few hours."

Akari blanched. He had said all of this very casually, smiling a little. She decided not to ask stupid questions like how, or why, or what, because she didn't need to. "What can I do?"

"I need to leave," he said simply and she glanced at his legs, the bare feet still carrying remnants of walking in frozen grass without shoes.

"You can barely make it out of the hospital without keeling over," she said and he laughed. She wished he hadn't done that. He looked fine until he had laughed.

"I know that, but I'm not... not in..." He paused and Akari saw his gaze lose focus, like he was already slipping somewhere else. She reached out and touched his hand, and he snapped back, alarmed until he could relax again. Taiki sighed. "I'm in the wrong world."

I hate it when I'm right. "None of us know how to open a path, there aren't exactly Zones of DigiQuartz or..."

"Kiriha and Nene might know." His voice carried that familiar pressure. "If you talk to them, they might..."

The creature below suddenly hissed at him and Taiki grimaced, placing a hand over his abdomen. She saw something move beneath his hand and flinched.

"What the-"

"I told you," Taiki said softly. "I need to leave. Or this thing will drag me there anyway, right back to him. Right back to that knight."

"Then you have to stay here," Akari said, gripping his hand until he winced.

Taiki shook his head no. "If I go before he expects me, he won't be able to find me, and I'll be able to stop what's happening."

Akari scowled. "You're just going to do this alone, after everything-"

"Yes." Taiki shook his head even as he agreed with her. "Until I get there, until I get rid of this, yes, then, I will need to-" He stopped again and she jumped.

"After everything, you're going to just run off again! You're our friend, my best friend, there has to be a way-"

"It's not me he really wants for this. It's..." He fell silent and the creature hissed again, like it was laughing.

Akari paused and took a deep breath, and he stared at her, eyes owlishly wide. She smiled and he nodded his head a little.

"Don't worry, Taiki," she murmured. "We'll find a way."

He didn't answer as she slipped from her seat, but his hand reached out and clasped hers for an extra second, scratching into her palm.

Shademon was toying with his head, making him remember and forget in turns.

DarkKnightmon wanted someone pliant. But for what, and why Taiki?

"It's not me he really wants for this."

There was only one other person he could want.