Well, I warned you it would take a while to update. Sigh. This is really short. I fear the next one won't be that much better. Oh well. Oh, and because my computer loves me so much I can't preview this chapter and fix things so the dividers between different people's point-of-views should be three slashes. If not I'll personally kill the computer! (Computer gives evil, death glare) I... I mean... give it tender loving care!
Chapter 8
The Collapse
By the next morning, Daisuke was beat. He dragged himself out of bed and down the stairs, yawning the whole way, his vision bleary. Every step felt like slogging through quicksand.
Dark watched worriedly as Daisuke tripped into the kitchen and sat down at the table, rubbing his eyes. Even Emiko noticed something was wrong.
"You look tired," she said. "Didn't sleep well?" Daisuke mumbled something that sounded affirmative.
School wasn't any better. All through first period he had his face resting against one hand as the teacher's voice faded in and out. He yawned a lot and almost started to doze off a couple times before jerking back awake. Tora was watching him intently but he didn't even notice.
As Daisuke started to open the door to his second period classroom, someone yelled his name.
"DAISUKE!" Daisuke was so startled he slammed the door he was opening closed again, right on Takeshi. Daisuke immediately opened the door again as Takeshi let out a pain-filled cross between a yowl and a gasp. He staggered free of the door. Riku (who was standing behind Daisuke and who had happened to see the whole thing) snorted.
"You deserved it, Takeshi," she said as he straightened indignantly.
"What did you want, anyway?" Daisuke asked.
"I… Never mind," he said, storming off. Riku shrugged, as if to say, "That's Takeshi."
"What's the holdup?" And Daisuke realized they'd been blocking the door. Risa, Satoshi, and Tora were all behind him, waiting to get in. But now that the excitement was over, Daisuke was tired again. So darn tired.
"I'm sorry." Daisuke moved to let them through-slowly, as though each step were a struggle-and all at once was overcome by waves of tiredness. He yawned and his vision went blurry. And there, seemingly before him, was the Staff, its broken end glinting. Daisuke couldn't believe it! And as awash as his world already was, it just never occurred to him to wonder why the Staff would suddenly appear out of thin air. Instead, like in a dream, it just was. He reached out for it. Just a little further! But everything was already so fuzzy and as he stretched everything blurred out-the Staff, his vision, everything…
"Daisuke!" Dark shouted. But the darkness had already stolen him. He collapsed.
Satoshi caught Daisuke before he hit the ground. Everyone immediately gathered around in a circle of curious onlookers.
"What happened?" Risa asked.
"What's wrong with him?"
"Is he okay?"
"Everyone back up!" Satoshi said. "I'll take him to the Nurse's Office." Satoshi carefully scooped Daisuke into his arms. Then, taking rigid control of his emotions, he carried Daisuke down the hall, Krad whispering in the back of his mind.
Riku hesitated by her classroom, watching as Daisuke was carried away. She should have been getting to class, she'd be late. But Daisuke… she had to make sure he was okay.
Having made up her mind she turned away from the door and hurried after Satoshi.
Satoshi had just set Daisuke down on a stiff, white bed in the Nurse's Office when Riku came running in.
"Is he okay?" she asked. "What happened?"
"He's just tired," Satoshi replied. "He needs to sleep."
"Oh." She looked only a little relieved.
"You should go back to class. Let the teacher know what happened."
"I was just worried. The way he collapsed like that…"
"I'll stay here and watch him," Satoshi said. Riku wrung her hands, eyes never leaving the bed. "He'll be okay." Finally, she nodded and turned to leave, glancing one last time at Daisuke.
After she was gone Satoshi sat down on a nearby chair and watched Daisuke's chest rise and fall as he breathed. This time Satoshi was certain. If he looked closely he could see a slight fuzziness around Daisuke, as though he were fading away at the edges. And earlier, right before he'd collapsed, Daisuke had seemed to flicker again, longer this time, in and out of reality. Satoshi didn't think anyone else had seen it; they'd been starting for the door. He was glad now that he'd gotten Daisuke out of there before someone had seen him because something was wrong. Something was really, really wrong. In the back of his head, Krad was disgusted.
"Kill him," Krad suggested. "Then Dark will never bother you again." Satoshi closed his eyes and focused on keeping calm. No emotion whatsoever. Krad laughed. "You can't keep me here forever and one of these days I'll get to finish what I started with little Daisuke."
Special thanks to Les Scribbles (you changed your name!), JONH 117 (laughing; Krad's cool; thanks for the review!), and chrnoskitty (nice to meet you, too!).
(Aggravated sigh) Does anyone else get viruses or error messages on their comp when they access It took me forever to figure out how to get back on! I even tried the school's computers and almost shut them down! It's just not fair! But I'll try to get the rest of this story up (I have to finish the last two chapter, first!) and hopefully the next one. Giggling evilly, I get to have so much fun with Krad!
