Author's notes: The 26th chapter is here; enjoy the story! Pointers:
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon …lalala
Summary: Guess it's starting…
For Reviewers:
Fiorella Takaishi – Thank you!
Tomboy 601 – Thank you!
Takerus Lost Angel – Thanks for the review, hope you would enjoy this chapter!
Raena – Thanks for pointing out, and hope this chapter answers your question.
Celestial-Dragonz – Yes, things are getting more and more complicated. ):
CHAPTER 26:
Realizations - Reprise -
The man coughed and coughed, not being able to concentrate on his work. His friends saw and took concern for him. "Hey, Hiroaki, are you okay?" 1 of his colleagues walked up and asked. The man smiled weakly and nodded his head.
"I'm fine…Thank you," He then returned back to his work. His colleagues frowned and went back to their work. The 40 year-old then stood up and stumbled to the restroom, looking pale and perspiring on his forehead. He walked into the restroom, and then stood before the mirror. He stared at the reflection that looked so pale and sick. All of a sudden, he coughed even harder and before he knew it, there were patches of red in the sink and on the glass.
He scowled. "This is getting worse…" He then wiped away the blood and gave himself a little wash on the face…
-- -- --
"All right, everyone listen up!" The coach clapped his hands as the boys diverted their attention towards him. "I have a piece of good news for you guys!" The boys got excited. "Since we won the last championship, we have been invited to be part of the Japan High School All-stars Tournament!"
"Whoa!" The boys cheered and clapped their hands, all delighted with the piece of news.
"Of course, 20 teams have been chosen to participate in the competition," The coach explained. "And all of them are very strong teams; that's why they have been chosen to be part of this glorious event!"
"Then, coach, when will we begin?" Hayato asked.
"The match will start by late March which means we do not have much time left for practices" The man answered. "You guys would be facing tougher trainings and of course to learn fast as well!"
"All right then!" Bandou stood up. "Let's get started!" Then, the boys dismissed and began with their trainings. Takeru walked slowly, his mind pondering upon numerous thoughts.
Masumi has been suspended…What's going to happen now?
-- -- --
Evening…
"…This…" The man walked up and spotted a nice-looking wristband being hanged up. He picked it up and observed. "Hmm…" The green and white colored wristband looked good and the man nodded. "Well…" He coughed. "This is it…" Then, he took it and went to the counter.
-- -- --
The blonde walked up the stairs and through the opened door. He noticed the hot-head standing by the table, looking at the view of the big city. He walked up and stood behind Daisuke. "What is it you called me for?"
"…You're here…" Daisuke turned and walked beside Takeru. "Why did you choose to help her at that time?"
"That's all you're asking?" Takeru smirked. "Don't waste my time, please…"
"I'm serious," Daisuke stared. "I said before, I will fight for what I want…"
"…I'm off," Takeru wanted to walk off, until Daisuke spoke up again.
"I am serious that I will do anything to protect Hikari, even to have her…" Daisuke said. "Even with you, I will fight till the end…" Takeru merely smirked and walked off.
"She has got nothing to do with me…" He left with only 1 sentence…
-- -- --
"Here," The man coughed. He passed the wristband to the young woman sitting across. The woman was confused.
"What's this?" She took and observed it. "Why are you…"
"It's for Takeru," The man coughed again. "Just pass it to him, don't tell him it's from me…" Then, he coughed again, and this time, several drops of red were seen on the table. The woman frowned. A waiter passing by saw what happened and he looked stunned. Hiroaki took a bottle of ketchup and showed the bloke. "Sorry, I spilled the ketchup." He smiled weakly. Then, the waiter walked away.
"…Did you see a doctor?" Natsuko asked out of concern. The man merely shook his head and smiled back.
"It's alright. Just pass that wristband to Takeru for me," He coughed. "I better get going…" Finished with his statement, he left the café as Natsuko continued watching…
-- -- --
At night…
The brunette took the calendar and placed it on the bed, with a pen in her hand. Then, she took off the cap and circled the date, 13th March, in red ink. She bit her pen after circling. "…Hmmm…" She stared. Then, she wrote: My birthday.
Then, several things flashed through her mind…
"Kazumi, stop it…" The blonde held her hand and pulled it down slowly. The girl was trembling. She had just woken up from her actions.
"…I'm sorry," She apologized. Daisuke stepped back slowly, behind the door. Hikari was still behind the blonde, astonished by what he did. Then, Kazumi stepped back, and left the roof fast running passed Daisuke without noticing.
"Are you alright?" Takeru asked, looking lifeless like usual.
"…Umm…" She nodded slowly. Then, the blonde sighed and left the roof, with Hikari still standing on the spot…
"…" She pondered, and then woken up upon the scream of his brother. She could hear it clearly even with her door closed. "Mum! What did you cooked?!" Footsteps could be heard and Hikari knew very well what was going on.
"…Poor Taichi-niichan…Looks like he's getting food-poisoning again…" Then, she stared back at the date. She sighed, and soon rested upon the bed with her arms stretched out. She fell asleep in no time…
-- -- --
There was a knock on the door, and the blonde sighed. "Come in…" The door opened as a young woman walked into the room. "What is it?" He asked coldly.
The woman smiled and held out a wristband. "Here, a small gift…"
Takeru looked at it and stared. "Why give me this all of a sudden?" He sighed and returned back to his work. The woman smiled.
"Just take it, as a sign of best wishes for your upcoming matches." She smiled again. Takeru ignored her. Then, feeling helpless, she just placed it on the table and left the room. "I shall not disturb you then…" She closed the door. Takeru stopped work and picked up the wristband.
"…It must be…" He sighed and placed it aside…
-- -- --
The next day, 13th March…
"Here," Daisuke passed a wrapped present to the brunette. The brunette took it and observed the present.
"What is it…" She asked. Daisuke smiled and kept quiet.
"Opened it,"
"Okay…" She unwrapped it and in there was a box. She frowned and opened the box. In the box was a small cherry blossom filled glass. She smiled. "Thank you,"
"No problem." The hot-head smiled back. Just as he was about to ask something he had in his mind for quite a while, Hikari stood up.
"I better get going now, thanks for the present!" Then, she walked off fast. Daisuke frowned as he continued sitting there…
-- -- --
"And that, you get the answer to the equation…" He pointed out with a pen. Catherine nodded and hummed. The blonde then sat down and sighed.
"Let me try doing the next question myself…" She then focused on her work, as Takeru read his magazine. The 2 of them were sitting by the stone tables and chairs in the garden. Just then, Hikari ran passed them. As though the time had slowed down, Takeru and Hikari's eyes met while she ran. Hikari stopped. Takeru stared. Then, the brunette looked back quietly and ran off again.
"Hey, about…" Catherine looked up at the blonde. She looked at where Takeru was looking and asked, "What is it?" Takeru looked back and continued reading his magazine.
"Nothing," He shook his head.
"Oh," She bit her pencil. "How do you solve this part?" She pointed out on the paper as Takeru tried to help her again…
-- -- --
After School,
"Why is she always like that…" The hot-head mumbled as he walked out of the school compound. As he raised his head, looking forward, he noticed the brunette walking ahead of him. He frowned. "What is she doing there?" He pushed himself forward to get a closer look.
"Hmm…" She hummed as she read the message. "So, tonight I will be on my own?" She sighed. "How disappointing…" She kept her phone and Daisuke called out.
"Hikari!" The brunette turned.
"Oh, hey," She smiled as Daisuke stood beside her. "What's up?"
"Oh," He paused. "Wanna go out?" He asked at one shot. The brunette paused.
"Oh…Well…I…" She stopped. She noticed the blonde walking out with his bicycle. He has yet to notice the 2 of them. "Okay, sure." She grinned. Daisuke grimaced happily as Takeru soon looked up at them.
"Well, we'll meet at the amusement park near playground then! Later evening at 6pm," He said happily. Takeru watched. Then, Hikari looked at him.
Takeru kept quiet and rode his bicycle off on his own. Hikari paused and looked back. "See you then," She bade good bye and ran off. Takeru on the other hand, had more thoughts in his mind.
Why do I feel left out…
-- -- --
-Ding-Dong!- The door went. Masumi stopped whatever she was doing and went out to open the door. "Coming!" Then, she opened and noticed a giant standing in front of her. It was Takeru. "Oh…It's you."
"Mind if I…come in?" He looked around. The girl nodded and let the blonde in. "Thank you," He took off his shoes and walked in. Then, Masumi sat back in her seat and continued with her painting.
"Well, what's the issue?" She asked as she painted blue on the eyes. Takeru watched her. She was painting a mysterious looking woman, with lots of water circling around it. The woman herself looked like a water body, and below her wrote – Undine. Takeru was fascinated with the painting. Then, Masumi called out again. "Hey, I'm asking you a question."
"Oh, sorry…" He shook. "I just thought I might drop by and visit you…" He looked around. Then, Masumi asked.
"If so…I suppose you should leave now," She said. "I'm not in a pretty good mood nowadays." Takeru listened and nodded.
"…Suppose so…" He held his hands together. "About that fire…I'm sure you will be fine…"
Masumi ignored. "Well, I don't give a damn about it…"
"Someone else out there is responsible for it, I'm sure."
"…Don't crap with me…" Masumi sounded pissed. Takeru frowned.
"Sorry," He apologized. Then, he stood up and walked towards the door. "I suppose I should leave now." Then, as he opened the door, he turned again. "Don't worry, you will be fine. The culprit would be out in no time, I'm sure of it." He snapped and walked out. Masumi paused.
"…Takeru…" She gazed.
With the door closed, Takeru walked back to his bicycle and started riding. Then, as he rode, he noticed a basketball court by the side. He stopped and got down. He saw a basketball by the bench and picked it up. "I suppose I could play a while…" Then, he dribbled down and started making shots and lay-ups…
-- -- --
Evening…
"What was I thinking…"Hikari frowned as she walked. Then she shook her head as she saw the amusement park in front of her. "Why am I thinking, stupid me…" Then, she walked up and waited by the bench. "Oh well, where's her anyway?"
-- -- --
A hand stretched out from the toilet and grabbed hold of the door. "Argghh…" The hot-head looked pale on the face. "Darn it…" Just as he was about to reach out for his phone, the pain came back. "No…." He ran back into the toilet…
-- -- --
"Hah-" He made another shot at the rim. The ball flew high and missed the rim. "Darn it." He ran towards and picked the ball up. He made another shot. The ball bounced back. He fell down on his knees in exhaustion and panted vigorously. "What is this…"
He lied down flat and stared at the glowing sky. He panted and panted, with many thoughts on his mind.
What is this feeling… Why am I feeling this…
He stared at his trembling hand.
This hand…Looks so useless to me…I feel so…Empty…
He stared back at the sky…
-- -- --
It was getting late and Hikari sat down waiting for Daisuke. She growled. "Where is he…" She had watched many others going in and out of the amusement park and she got tired of it. Then, she decided to call the hot-head.
Daisuke rubbed his stomach, as he continued looking pale on the face. "Darn it…" There was still pain he could feel. Then, his phone vibrated. He remembered something. "Hikari!" He tried picking it up, but however, the phone dropped. Daisuke was stunned. "Oh no!" He realized that the parts of the phone had fallen out and he wanted to fix it back. "Darn it, come on…"
Hikari sighed as she ended the call. "Where the heck is he…" She stared at the night sky, as she continued waiting…
-- -- --
Takeru focused and released a shot. The ball went high up, fast and strong, and there, it went into the rim. Takeru cheered. "Finally…" He breathed hard. Then, he gave himself a little stretch to cool down. All of a sudden, he felt drops on water dripping onto his arms. It was drizzling. He then picked up his bag and ran to his bicycle…
-- -- --
Hikari stared at the sky and noticed the water dripping onto her face. "It's…raining…" She stood up all of a sudden wanting to find a shelter to hide under. The amusement park was already closing and she sighed. "Where the heck is he…"
-- -- --
Takeru rode fast under the rain. He noticed an amusement park ahead and sped there, hoping to find a shelter. As he rode, he noticed someone familiar standing under the shelter. He looked harder, under the pouring rain. It was Hikari.
The brunette noticed someone riding a bike heading her way. She gasped. It was Takeru. Then, the blonde stopped in front of her. He got down fast and walked towards the brunette. They stared.
"What are you doing here?" Hikari asked. Takeru ignored.
"You need a lift?" He asked and stared out at the heavy downpour. "I suppose you do…" He looked back. Hikari paused for a moment. Then she nodded. They got out fast and on the bike as the blonde sped again.
-- -- --
As Takeru paddled, Hikari held on tight to his back. She felt that certain kind of feeling again, the warm feeling, even though it was raining heavily. Then, many things flashed across her mind.
She was half-asleep, and felt comfortable on Takeru's back…
It feels so…comfortable and…warm…
-
This feeling…
She realized herself lying on someone else's back.
It's the feeling back then…That warm and comfortable feeling…
She couldn't let go and her heart continued thumping fast and she felt warmth, yes, warmth. It was as though the time had just stopped moving, and that she was going to stay like this forever.
"Hey…Get off me…" The voice urged.
Then, Hikari stood up clumsily, and the lights came back. She looked up and in front of her, was a blonde. She was bewildered as she covered her mouth in shock.
It can't be…Takeru…Takeru!
The blonde stretched his back and sighed, "So, you were the one who fell onto me…You're real heavy, you know…"
She kept quiet and stared. Her mind was in a state of mess, and her heart, thumping fast…
This…feeling…
-- -- --
"Are you done yet?" Takeru got impatient. They were already outside the Yagami Apartment. Hikari searched high and low but couldn't find her keys. She panicked.
"I can't find it…" Then, Takeru sighed. "My parents will be back soon…" Takeru sat down. "What are you…"
"I will wait with you…" He yawned. Hikari frowned and then slowly sat down beside him.
"I'm…sorry…" She apologized. Takeru kept quiet. Then, they stared at the night sky. Hikari smiled. Takeru yawned. Then, just as the brunette wanted to talk to Takeru, she turned and realized his eyes were already closed. She stared and recalled many things.
"Then, that's it." Takeru got on his feet. "I will help you," He stuffed his hands into his pockets. "I will find out who's behind all these.'
Takeru looked at Hikari, with confidence in his smile and eyes. Those dazzling blue eyes filled Hikari with hope. "You…" Hikari said.
-
"Here…It…is…" The blonde panted as he held out the keychain. Hikari was stunned, as she took the keychain.
"This…" She spoke softly. She stared hard at the photo, with Daisuke and Takeru inside. Slowly, slowly, her eyes went teary…
-
"Hikari, we better go home now…" Then, just as the brunette turned to face Takeru, she collapsed. Takeru gasped in shock as he held her up. "Hikari! Hikari!"
"…" Hikari was already unconscious. Takeru tried to wake her up and realized that she was having a high fever.
-- -- --
She paused. Then, she stared at the blonde. All of a sudden, she felt really weird and anxious. Her heart thumped fast like before. She couldn't understand either, the glowing red in her. Without thinking, she leaned forward and pecked him on the lips. They kissed…
-- -- --
The man walked unstably. His colleagues frowned and walked up. "Hiroaki, are you okay?" Then, the man smiled back, only to collapse in front of them. There, he was surrounded by his friends in a circle and his vision looking blurred
TO BE CONTINUED
A/N: Okay, this chapter is done. Hope you would enjoy it! Until then, readers!