Chapter 25
A Terrible Rain Begins to Fall
For the first time in so many days Tai finally got to sleep in his own bed while Takuya slept on the couch; since it was where he had passed out. Even though she couldn't say anything to them Kari felt a little sad that Takuya wouldn't be sleeping in the bunk beneath her and that he wouldn't be the first person she saw in the morning when she woke up.
After what seemed like a very short night the daylight once again filled the city and it was time to raise and face a new day. Following the same routine as they had the last few morning they were ready to go in plenty of time.
"How are you feeling Takuya? We heard about Gryphonmon from Sora." Kari asked leaning forward so she could look into Takuya's face as the three continued to walk to school.
"I feel a lot better now that I've gotten a good night's sleep." Takuya yawned still not completely awake.
"That's good." Kari smiled before facing forward again.
"It's actually better than it sounds." Takuya rejoined with a smile of his own.
"What do you mean by that?" Tai asked intrigued by Takuya's statement.
"Well I don't feel as tired as I used to and I was able to become BurningGreymon again and stay that way for a while. I think all that's a sign that I'm on the mend and making some progress." Takuya answered smiling even more then before while he explained his thinking. Takuya had always hated having to sit on the sidelines so his situation as of late was really bugging him; but now that he was healing up he was feeling much more positive.
"Finally some good news. With all that's happened so far it looks like we're going to need all the firepower we can get." Tai cheered, thinking about all the fights they'd had in the last few days.
"True and considering the ones we've taken down so far are only the subordinates we're in for some serious fights in the future." Takuya added in the same tone as Tai.
"That's really kind of depressing Takuya." Tai replied looking back at the younger boy.
"Yeah… It really depressed me when I said it." Takuya sighed as the two teenage boys hung their heads in contemplation. Kari on the other hand laughed to herself noticing how similar the two were currently acting.
The rest of the walk to school was spent in a relaxed silence while each of the three thought about what the next few days might hold for them.
"What's with the two of them?" A voice asked from behind Kari.
Turning around and smiling Kari was greeted by the intrigued face of Yolei; who seemed to be trying to figure out Tai and Takuya's strange behavior. Beside her was Ken who seemed interested, but didn't want to pry.
"They made themselves sad." Kari answered.
"How'd they do that?" Yolei rejoined in an interested voice.
"They over thought some things." Kari responded with a small giggle.
"It looks like we're here." Tai announced to the small group, interrupting Yolei's next question.
The group said their goodbyes at the schools entrance and headed off in their own directions. Takuya made his way to the roof as always. He climbed the same stairs he had every morning and turned the knob on the red door that lead to the roof and pushed it open. After walking around the roof for a while and doing some more research about this world Takuya sprawled out on the cool concrete of the roof and fell asleep under the blue sky.
After about an hour Takuya awoke to a sudden drop of water striking his forehead. His eyes flickered open and slowly adjusted to the world. The sky above which had been clear and blue no more than an hour ago was now covered in dark rolling clouds which a pale grey light seeping through. Realizing that the drop that had awoken him was just the beginning of an encroaching rainstorm Takuya quickly began to gather up his thing and shoved them into his bag.
In the distance he could hear the sound of the downpour of water as it raced towards him from above. Placing the last of his possessions into the bag Takuya leapt down from his hiding spot onto the rooftop below. He now stood before the door leading back into the school with his hand on the knob contemplating whether or not his current course of action was the right choice. While getting completely soaked in a cold rain that would probably last for hours was very unappealing; the idea of being found in a school he didn't belong in by one of the teachers seemed just as bad.
With his mind made up he turned the knob, pulled the door open, and ducked inside just as the water cascaded down from above; quickly flooding the roof. Taking one last look at the sky above from the shelter of the rooftop entrance Takuya sighed then released the door and let it swing shut before he headed down the stairs to find a new refuge.
Takuya quietly walked along the hallways looking in through the different windows as he passed by. He marveled at the fact that of all things that changed with the different worlds, school seemed to remain the same. The same classrooms, the same desks, the same whiteboards, and lockers lining the hallways. Takuya didn't know whether to be comforted by this fact or bother by it; but for now he was just looking for someplace to lay low for a few hours.
Takuya slipped around a few corners or pretended to fiddle with a locker to avoid a patrolling teacher from time to time, but he still hadn't been able to find an empty room.
"Just my luck! The school would have to be over crowded leaving no empty rooms." Takuya quietly mocked his own situation.
Turning another corner Takuya stopped in his tracks and stared through a small glass window into the classroom beyond it. There on the far side of the room framed perfectly by the window sat Kari. She was anxiously staring out the window at the dark sky and water cascading down the glass.
This seemed kind of strange to Takuya since he had thought Kari was the type to take her studies seriously and always pay attention to the teacher. Then it dawned on him. She wasn't daydreaming she was worrying about him. Worrying about whether he was still out on the roof in the freezing rain; unsure if he had risked coming in to the school. For some reason this made Takuya smile while a slight twinge shook his heart.
"I need to let her know I'm doing fine." Takuya thought to himself as he leaned against one of the walls and stared up at the ceiling tiles trying to think how he could tell her.
Kari sat at her desk listening to the teacher trying to explain to the class about the last chapter they had covered in math class. She already knew all of this but she still paid attention out of respect for the teacher; until a slight rumbling caught her attention. She turned toward the window and looked up at the clouds that had swarmed the sky and blocked out most of the sun.
"It looks like rain…" Kari whispered to herself.
She debated whether or not she should excuse herself so that she could check on Takuya. Kari decided to at least make sure that he knew to come in from the rain when it started, so she raised her hand and waited for the teacher to notice her. At the front of the class the teacher was trying to explain the same formula to Davis for the ninth time and was beginning to get frustrated. When he set down the book and began to rub his temples he finally noticed Kari's hand in the air.
"Kamiya whatever it is it can wait twenty more minutes when class ends." The teacher announced not looking towards the girl. Disheartened Kari let her hand fall back onto her desk and began staring out the window hoping it wouldn't rain.
After a few minutes the first hints of rain began to roll down the glass of the window in little clear streaks. A few seconds later the rain intensified covering the window in a sheet of rolling water. All she could do was look out at the dark skies and hope Takuya wasn't caught out in it.
More time passed and the rain only increased along with Kari's worry. She continued to stare out the window waiting for the bell to dismiss them for their next class. As she stared she began to notice that the water that flowed down the window was no longer clear but had turned into a murky grey mixture. It ran down the windowpane slowly turning it a deep, deep, black blocking out the world beyond it. Kari just watched as the water itself disappeared behind the darkness; leaving only her reflection staring back at her from the jet black wall.
The feeling that ran through Kari was familiar, but different at the same time. It was like drowning in sorrow, unable to call for help. She needed someone to save her from this. It was calling her again and she was too scared to save herself. The cold sensation which crippled her body slowly began to creep its way into her mind as she began to feel numb.
"Someone… Help me…" She cried within her own mind unable to voice it to those around her.
Her plea for help echoed through the reaches of her mind before it sunk into the darkness that slowly encroached on her soul. Soon she reached the brink of the darkness and could only watch as it dragged towards her. On the outside her skin was slowly losing its warmth and her eyes were growing dimmer the closer the darkness got. The biting cold was consuming her.
Kari's body had now become completely numb from the cold leaving her no more strength to resist the coming darkness. She closed her mind and awaited her end; darkness's finally victory over her. But it didn't come. Warmth began to flow through her again. It started at the finger tips on her right arm and slowly moved across her hand. It flowed up her arm and spread across her chest; igniting her heart and dispelling the cold that had clouded her mind. As the warmth continued to spread the darkness that had threatened her receded and the light began to return to her world.
With evils grip loosened Kari returned to her senses. The brightness returned to her eyes, but they still mirror her fear from her sudden ordeal. The warmth that had revived her still flowed through her but it had leveled off while the warmth in her hand continued to increase; soothing her spirit. Turning away from the rain slicked window from which the darkness had faded she looked down towards her right hand to find the source of the gentle heat that had saved her.
In her small hand was another larger hand. The fingers were intertwined with hers and gripping softly leaving no space between their skin. Kari followed the hand up to its arm, to the shoulder, and to the face that was looking into hers.
"Takuya…" Kari whispered with a quiet sob. Feeling the need to be closer she leaned toward him and rested her face against his shoulder while she quietly cried. Takuya just squeezed her hand tighter telling her that he was there for her and that he wasn't going anywhere.
He had saved her when she had needed it most. When no-one else had noticed that she needed to be rescued he had noticed. He had returned the warmth to her world. Kari didn't care how he got there; all she felt was grateful. Grateful that he has beside her.
Takuya stood in the hall trying to figure out how he was going to alleviate Kari's worry when a sudden presence registered in the back of his mind. Looking up and down the hallway Takuya tried to figure out where this evil presence was coming from. Whatever it was it wasn't completely in the school; it was more like it was reaching out using a strange power. It had probably been in the school for a while and was now going after its target.
Considering the fact that Takuya had the Sealed Digivice on him he believed that whatever he was sensing was coming for him so he began to move away from the classroom, so not to endanger the students within. But the further away he got from the classroom the weaker the presence got. The further he got from the classroom the further he got from the presences target!
Takuya quickly turned around and ran back to the classroom; sliding to a stop in front of the small window and peered inside. His eyes instantly landed on Kari whose expression of concern had changed. Her face now seemed devoid of emotion and color. Like something was pulling her soul away from her.
"Kari…!" Takuya forced himself to keep his voice at a whisper.
Takuya didn't know what was happening to Kari but he knew that she needed help. She needed something other than acknowledgement or someone to talk to. She needed something else and Takuya needed to get to her.
His mind flooded with worry. Takuya no longer feared being found on the school grounds where he didn't belong or the repercussions he would face. All he cared about, all he feared was what would happen to Kari if this continued.
Takuya slowly turned the handle on the door until he heard a small click. Then he pushed the door open slowly and peeked through the crack towards the front of the room. The teacher seemed distracted by someone in the front of the row who was giving him problems. Taking this opportunity Takuya slipped into the classroom slowly closing the door behind him. As he carefully made his way across the room towards Kari a few students turned to look at him before turning back towards the front. They most likely mistook him for a late student or didn't care to ask why he was there.
He managed to make it to the empty seat next to Kari and sat down. Takuya had achieved his first objective but he still hadn't figured out how he was going to help her. Now he sat there helpless to help Kari; contemplating what to do next. Then suddenly an idea popped into his head. He didn't know why it would work he just knew deep down that it was what he needed to do.
Takuya reached down and took hold of Kari's hand in his own. He intertwined his fingers with hers and held tight. Her hand was so cold and clammy that it scared him. As the seconds ticked by Takuya began to worry that the plan he had put all his faith in was failing; that he was going to lose her. Then he felt it. Kari's hand twitched and she tightened her grip as the cold began to vanish from her body.
He continued to watch as her color returned and light once again filled her eyes. She soon began to move again and looked down at his hand embracing hers and then up to his face. Takuya smiled when he heard her whisper his name before she buried her face in his shoulder to cry. He sat there offering his quiet support, knowing she wasn't ready to talk about what had happened yet.
As Kari continued to softly cry into his shoulder Takuya did some thinking of his own. Why had he thought that he couldn't lose her? Why had he feared more for her then his own life? How did he know that he of all people could bring her back?
The answer was so simple that Takuya could only laugh to himself on the inside. He hadn't known that he was the only one who could save her. He just knew that he wanted to be the one to do it. This wasn't something he had ever considered let alone thought he could've let happen. He was in a whole different kind of trouble now. A kind that ran deeper than battles and being a Runner.
Outside the storm raged on. The Sun slowly drowned in the darkening clouds giving no sign that it would be returning its brilliant light to the world anytime soon. And the rain fell with increasing intensity showing no hint of stopping. This maelstrom was only getting started and in the center our two heroes can only hope to weather it safely.
To be continued…