Author's Note: Each chapter will focus on one of the Chosen as he/she deals with the situation. Because of that, the days/timeline kind of jumps around a bit. I'll post an updated timeline at the beginning of each chapter.
Day 1: Taichi is paralyzed following a battle in the Digital World. Jyou brings him to the hospital and has to explain to him his condition. Hikari and Sora arrive and Jyou takes them to see Taichi. Hikari faints and is brought to another waiting room. Sora almost faints and has to leave the room for air. When Yamato arrives, he sees Sora waiting outside Taichi's hospital room and they both enter. Hikari recovers and enters Taichi's room but breaks down. Takeru arrives sometime later and sees Hikari crying into Sora's shoulder. He tries to comfort her but then she leaves to talk with her parents in Taichi's room. She finds out Taichi is paralyzed. Koshiro isn't able to go to the hospital.
Between Day 1 and 2: Hikari calls the Chosen and tells them that Taichi is paralyzed and will never walk again. On the first day home from the hospital, she overhears Taichi struggling to use the bath. Koshiro starts to research Taichi's condition.
Day 2: Mimi visits Taichi and finds him depressed and angry. She decides to throw a picnic to cheer him up. Mimi tells Koshiro to see Taichi, but he hesitates and thinks he'll go once he has good news about a cure. Sora goes to the Yagami's apartment later and hides as Taichi leaves in his wheelchair. She feels guilty and goes up to the apartment to wait for him. She and Hikari chat and Taichi comes back with groceries. He won't let them help him and Sora notices how distant he is to Hikari. As she leaves, Taichi follows, saying that he needs to go to the electronics store. Sora tells him to stop being so cold and he, almost reluctantly, apologizes.
Day 3: Hikari sees Taichi using the exercise equipment their father bought for him. She tries to help him with breakfast, but he refuses. At the picnic, Taichi's still distant. He gets angry when the rest of the Chosen start talking about their future plans. Yamato calls Taichi a baby. Taichi leaves and Jyou explains why Yamato's insult was so offensive. Sora makes Yamato chase after Taichi to apologize. Hikari and Takeru chase after them. Hikari catches up to Taichi and he yells at her, saying that she's treating him like a baby too. Mimi doesn't understand why her picnic failed and Jyou told her that Taichi just needs to remember that his friends care for him.
Day 4: Mimi delivers a present of her homemade pork buns for Taichi, along with a note telling him that she's there for him. Taichi responds later via text to thank her. Yamato continues to try and apologize to Taichi, but Taichi doesn't answer any of his texts. Sora goes to talk to Taichi in person. She gets him to agree to talk to Yamato and then sees Taichi has thrown away his university brochures. He thinks his life is over and Sora argues, getting him to maybe go into politics. Takeru comes over and meets Taichi as he's getting the mail. Takeru gives Taichi some words of wisdom about not giving up hope before asking about Hikari. Taichi doesn't know where she is and Takeru notes that Taichi doesn't seem to care.
Day 5: Yamato finally gets through to Taichi and gets him to agree to a meeting at a local basketball court. Koshiro has a possible solution and goes to Taichi's apartment to scan his data. He sees that Taichi and Hikari aren't getting along. Takeru talks to Hikari and they agree to hang out after school. As he waits to cross the street in front of the apartment, he sees the Yagami siblings leave without saying anything to each other. He starts to wonder about the tension between them. At the court, Yamato tries to convince Taichi that he can still do what he wants with his life. Taichi agrees to go into politics and, after some tough love from Yamato, starts to think about joining a physically disabled basketball team. Koshiro stays up all night to work on the program to cure Taichi.
Day 6: Yamato calls Takeru early that morning and tells him about the game he had with Taichi the previous night. Takeru talks to Hikari at school later that day and she hints she didn't know. Takeru starts to suspect something is going on between the two of them. Hikari starts to convince herself that Taichi's distant because she's not able to help him as the other Chosen. Koshiro tells the older Chosen about his possible cure for Taichi.
Between Days 6 and 7: Taichi joins a physically disabled basketball team and invites the Chosen to watch. He did not tell Hikari.
Day 7: Sora finds out that Taichi didn't tell Hikari about the game. She forces the two of them to talk to each other. Hikari apologizes for not being able to help Taichi and Taichi breaks down. He confesses that he pushed her away because of how awkward and humiliated he felt. The two make up.
Day 8: Koshiro needs to scan Taichi's data again. He tries the program in a simulation and it fails. He breaks down, saying that everything he tried failed. He tells Taichi he can't cure him. Taichi tells him not to worry about it.
Fragments
Chapter 8 of 8
Taichi
Day 1
Taichi had several days that he felt were the 'worst days of his life.' The day with Hikari in the park was on that list; the day Meiko broke up with him was there too. Without a doubt, though, the worst day of his life was when he tried to move his legs but couldn't. The worst day was the soul-crushing, bitterly cold fear when Jyou told him he was paralyzed. The worst day was the numbing awkwardness when his father and a male nurse had to lift him from the hospital bed and put him in a wheelchair. The worst day was the numbing realization that nothing was going to be 'normal' again.
The first day home from the hospital was the second-worst day of his life. His wheelchair fit through the doors without much trouble, but it was tight maneuvering around the furniture. When he tried to pivot around the corner into his room, the right side of his chair rammed into the door frame while the back, left side hit the chairs at the kitchen table.
"I'll get it," Hikari said. She pulled the chair out of the way and he was able to readjust himself to get through his bedroom door.
"Yeah, thanks," he muttered.
He wheeled himself into his room and dropped onto the floor the bag of supplies given to him by the doctors at the hospital. He started to roll out of his room and saw his parents moving the table, no doubt because he needed more clearance. Because he needed more clearance.
Hikari was at his side. "Do you need anything? Are you cold? Hot?"
She mistook his scowl for discomfort. "No."
His parents finished moving the table and then his father motioned to the newly-opened space. "Go ahead."
Taichi rolled his wheelchair between the table and the wall. There wasn't much more room, but it gave him more space than before. He continued around the table and into the living room. "All right," his mother said, "That's not so bad, right?"
Was she kidding? He just grunted and grabbed the remote off the couch. Hikari stood next to him. "What are you watching?"
He shrugged and flipped through the channels. Hikari sat on the couch and he tried not to roll his eyes. She didn't need to cling to him!
Still, watching t.v. with his sister while his mother made dinner in the kitchen was so normal. If he didn't focus on anything below his chest, it was almost like everything was the same as a week ago.
His mother walked over. "So, um, dinner's in the oven right now. Do you, um, want to try using the bath?"
His fingers twitched and he almost dropped the remote. His new normal came crashing back. He wanted to put it off as long as possible. He turned to tell his mother he'd be a few minutes, he caught sight of Hikari staring at him. Her eyes were shimmering slightly. It felt like she was peering into his soul."Fine! Let's just get this other with."
He tossed his sister the remote without a word and wheeled himself into the bathroom.
Taichi wasn't sure what made his heart race and his cheeks-his entire body-burn more; that his mother was seeing him naked for the first time in fifteen years, or that, once she helped him remove his clothes, he realized he'd had an accident at some point.
His mother acted like this was a normal routine for him. "The doctor said this might happen until your body gets used to your bowel management program."
Bowel management program. Another phrase on his list of words he'd never heard before but was now the pivot of his life.
His mother helped him at the beginning but marched out after he protested loud enough. That was when he realized there was only one towel. He normally used a second one for his hair. He was about to shout for his mother but held it back. He dried his body and then patted his hair as best he could. He managed to dress himself, which felt like an eternity, and then wheeled himself out the door.
Hikari was waiting outside with a towel. "Mom said to get this for you." She smiled, "I guess for your hair."
She was looking at him again with those same eyes. He snatched the towel out of her hands and wrapped it around his head. "Thanks," he muttered.
She hesitated. "It's, um, time to eat.."
The table was tall enough that he could fit his chair beneath, something else that made him feel almost normal.
Hikari sat down next to him while their mother poked her head into their father's office. "Take a break from those reports and join us for dinner."
His sister laughed slightly. "Dad'll always be dad, huh?"
Taichi grunted again as he scooped rice into his bowl. "Do you need anything?" Hikari asked, studying the table. "Oh, you want hot sauce, right? I'll get it for you."
She jumped to her feet and darted into the kitchen before he could say anything. She ran back and handed him the bottle. "Here. Do you need anything else?"
"No, I'm fine." He started shoveling food into his mouth.
"Um, so the others said they hope you feel better. They hope you come next time."
So that's where she went before, to meet with the others. His face twisted. "Wait, they hope I feel better?" He snorted."Well, that's not gonna happen, is it?"
Hikari paled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"And what'd you tell them?" he continued, "That I'm not gonna be winning any marathons anymore? That your brother has trouble bathing himself now?"
She stuttered for a response. He knew he was being unfair to her but he thought of the look on her face when he came home from the hospital, the look when he tried to maneuver his wheelchair around the apartment for the first time; the look of pity.
He wheeled back into his room and shut the door.
Day 2
Taichi's mother and sister told him about Mimi's picnic. He had started going out of the apartment, mostly because his mother forced him, so he was starting to get used to the stares people gave him, the ones filled with pity. Yet, when he thought of Sora and Yamato and the others all looking at him with those same eyes…
"Yeah, great," he said to his mother and Hikari, "Have fun."
His sister looked almost heartbroken. "Y-you're not going to go? But Taichi, Mimi wants to have it for you."
He snorted. "Sit there and be gawked at like some freak show? No way in hell.."
"Don't use that kind of language," their mother said with a scowl, "And you can't spend the rest of your life in this apartment."
"I don't!" he snapped.
"Going to school and the store doesn't count," she retorted, "You need to see your friends again."
"Please?" Hikari said, "Mimi and Sora and the others really want to see how you're doing."
He opened his mouth but their mother's scowl deepened. He slouched in his chair. "Fine, I'll go."
Their mother then left to go shopping but told them she probably wouldn't be back in time for dinner. Hikari offered to get take-out; which, he knew, meant she would pay for it. "Nah."
Then she offered to make him something. He imagined her cooking for him like he was completely helpless. Would she feed him next?
"I'm fine," he said as he wheeled into the room and shut the door. He stared out the window as his mind raced. Hikari didn't need to take care of him! He could handle dinner and…
He blinked and then smirked. He raced out of the apartment without saying anything to his sister.
He returned two hours later with two bags of groceries on his lap and a scowl on his face. His plan to prove that he could take care of himself by going to the store to buy things for dinner was a disaster. Everyone at the supermarket wanted to bend over backward to help him. He the stares and looks of pity in their eyes, he hated that he needed their help to reach things on the top shelf and he hated how an older man offered to carry Taichi's shopping basket until he got to the cashiers.
And right now, Taichi hated that he couldn't even lift the bags onto the counter. They were too heavy and too full and the countertop was just too high for him to maneuver everything.
He cursed to himself when he heard Hikari walk out of her room and cursed again when he realized Sora was with her. Hikari took a step forward. "Let me help you."
"I've got it!" he snapped. He could do this himself!
"Sure, Taichi, I know you can handle it."
He gave up with the counter and started shoving cans into the cabinet.
Hikari's voice quivered. "W-where did you go?"
"The store."
Sora was just standing there. "You gonna stare at me the whole time?"
They both jumped; Good! Serves them right for staring at him like a freak!
"Um, Sora came over to see you," his sister said.
He shoved the rest of the groceries into the cabinet and then slammed the door. "Well, here I am." He wheeled past them and into his room, once again slamming the door.
He'd lost his appetite anyway.
Day 3
Taichi propelled himself down the sidewalk faster than he'd thought possible. He would have pretended he was a race car driver and taken the upcoming turn as tight as possible. If he was in a better mood, of course. He snorted. Better mood? He was pissed.
He left the park right after that bastard Yamato opened his damn mouth. He knew Yamato and Sora were chasing him but was actually surprised when he stopped at the subway station and heard Hikari call out his name.
She was there, right behind him. He would have asked, or complimented her, on how she made it past Yamato and Sora. He would have if: he didn't remember Hikari begging him to come to the picnic, if she wasn't getting him glasses of water or offering to cook dinner or doing a million other things that just reminded him of the shitty turn his life took.
He yelled at her and just left her standing at the entrance of the train station. He went the rest of the way home by himself, not that he really expected her to follow him. He rolled himself into his room and he slammed his door. His heart raced and his mind whirled. Yamato's damn mouth wasn't even at the center of that maelstrom.
He turned to the pile of university catalogs resting on the edge of his desk, untouched since before the accident. He hadn't even realized it before today. before the others started talking about their career plans, but what was he going to do? He'd been so focused on how screwed up his present was, he didn't even think about how his future was even worse. No soccer scholarships, no athletic dreams of glory, no Olympic trophies. There was just nothing, nothing, nothing!
He screamed and pushed the top of the pile onto the floor. He grabbed the few that remained and threw them into the trash can with a sound like thunder.
He slouched in his chair, heaving and panting. He wanted to scream again but he was too tired; he was just too damn tired.
Day 4
The only somewhat positive aspect of Taichi's new normal was his new school. It was closer to the Yagami's apartment than either his high school or middle school. That meant not only did he get to leave later than Hikari, he also made it home before her. It also meant that he didn't need to leave his room until he was sure that she'd already left. The last thing he needed was her trying to feed him or something.
His mother was in the kitchen with a package in her arms. "Mimi was just here," she said, handing the box over to him, "She left you a present."
Taichi's scowl softened. "A present?" He opened the box. A dozen of her homemade pork buns rested inside. There was also a card. Taichi, I know that things are hard for you right now. I wish I could do more to help you, but please enjoy these pork buns for now, and just know that I'm here for you for whatever you need. All of your friends are too.
"That's so sweet of her," Mrs. Yagami said over Taichi's shoulder.
"Yeah," Taichi said in a soft voice.
"You're going to say thank you," she continued.
"Yeah," he repeated, "Yeah…"
He sent Mimi a thank you text message. The words she wrote made Taichi think about the conversation he had with Sora in the elevator the other day. He, grudgingly, admitted that was, probably, being an ass that day when Sora was visiting Hikari. Despite that, Sora still talked to him and wanted to help him. All his friends did.
Then his phone started ringing. He checked the i.d. and growled. Yamato. Taichi let it go to voicemail. "Hey, Taichi. Listen, I want to apologize about the picnic, but I want to do it in person. Give me a call back, okay?"
Taichi squeezed his phone until it started to bend. He'd call Yamato back once hell froze over!
Day 5
Hell froze over.
After talking with Takeru and promising Sora yesterday, Taichi answered when Yamato called. Taichi promised to meet him at a basketball court later that night. He had just gotten off the phone with him when Koshiro showed up, spouting something about scanning his data.
"What for?"
"Something that might help you," he answered, "Maybe, and it's only a theory at this point, maybe something that could cure you."
Taichi had heard everyone tell him since he woke up in the hospital that he'd never walk again, but Koshiro insisted he at least try. Taichi studied the device in Koshiro's hand, it looked like a hand-held paper scanner. He'd been told it was impossible but Koshiro was the smartest person, aside from Jyou, that Taichi knew. He wasn't going to get his hopes up; couldn't get his hopes up, but maybe…
"Fine, get it over with."
Koshiro ran the wand-liked scanner over his body and then started typing on his laptop. Taichi peered over his shoulder as best he could. There were two columns of data on either side of the monitor. He then started talking about how each side represented Taichi's data or something like that; Koshiro talked too fast when he was excited. What Taichi did understand was how his friend's program might help him, might even cure him.
Taichi swallowed and felt the shield he'd kept up since the hospital started to soften. "Koshiro, listen, I-"
Then the front door opened and Hikari walked inside. She stared at the two of them with her eyes shimmering again. She was probably thinking it was good that he was talking to Koshiro again or something like that.
"Oh, hi Koshiro," she said.
"Hi, Hikari. I was just showing Taichi…"
"Nothing," Taichi interrupted. He hoped Koshiro got the hint to keep quiet. He wasn't about to have Hikari gushing over some stupid cure that was going to work anyway. He pivoted his chair around and wheeled himself back into his room.
Day 6
Taichi couldn't remember when he'd been more nervous. His hand was shaking as he signed the forms and handed them to the man behind the desk. He looked them over and nodded. "Okay, everything looks in order. Welcome to the Flying Tigers."
Taichi's voice cracked when he thanked him.
The man smiled. "Let me introduce you to the rest of the team."
Taichi followed the coach out of his office and onto the court. A dozen other teenagers raced around in wheelchairs with angled wheels. "Yo!" the coach shouted, "Listen up! Here's our new player, Taichi Yagami."
They shouted out their names like they were in basic training in the army. He wondered what caused their injuries and how bad…
He gasped to himself and sat up straight. What was he going to say about the cause of his injury? Jyou's father was the doctor that treated him, so he had to put something on his forms. Why hadn't he even bothered asking?
Satoru, a boy with a red sweatband rolled up to him. "You all right? You look kinda worried." He smirked, "Hope we're not too intimidating."
Akari, a girl with a long braided ponytail rolled her eyes. "Don't take him too seriously," she said to Taichi, "He likes to push the buttons of all the new people."
Taichi shook his head. "I'm not...I mean, I didn't realize I'd need a special chair."
"We've got that covered," the coach said, "You can rent or buy one from us if you don't want to get one yourself. In the meantime, we've got a loner you can use tonight."
Taichi blinked. "T-tonight?"
"Why not?" Satoru asked. He narrowed his eyes. "You look like an athlete."
"I used to play soccer."
"Well then, I'm sure you'll pick up the rules in no time." He gestured with his head. "Come on. Himari's in the back."
Taichi blinked. "That the drill instructor or something?"
Akari rolled up beside him. "That's what we call the loner chair." She grinned, "You've got to have an iron will or she'll break you."
Satoru rolled towards a door in the rear of the court. "Let's go, Yagami! I wanna see what you're made of."
They were all so...so happy. For the first time since the accident, Taichi found his lips starting to turn upward. He grinned. "Bring it on."
AAAA
Taichi didn't tell any of the others about joining the team. He just imagined the smiles and soft looks in their eyes. Mimi would cheer for him, Sora would say it was good that he wasn't moping in his room, Yamato would just smile in that smug way, and everyone would just make a big deal over it. He didn't even tell his parents. All he told them was he was hanging out with some new friends.
Then Satoru called and said their first game was that Friday. He didn't have to tell any of them. He could have just kept it to himself, but he thought of Jyou comforting him during that first night in the hospital, Yamato pushing him to join the team, Mimi reminding him how much she cared about him, Takeru telling him that his life wasn't over and Sora helping him choose a new career path.
His hand was shaking once again as he brought the phone to his face. "Hey, Yamato. Are you busy this Friday?"
Everyone was coming, everyone except…
Taichi paused at Hikari's closed door. He could see her running onto the court and calling for an ambulance after he knocked into another player or something. Either that or she could be crying with joy or something else that would embarrass him.
He snorted and continued on his way.
Day 7
Taichi checked the address on his phone and then glanced up at the sign above the door. This was the restaurant. He reached for the door handle but his shoulder twitched. He hissed and then winced as that twitch spread into his shoulders. Despite the pain, he smiled to himself. He was actually sore after a sports game, a feeling he never thought he'd feel again.
The door to the restaurant swung open and Sora marched out. "There you are."
Taichi stammered. "I, uh, yeah. I just got here." He gave her a strange look. "I thought you said we had a table."
She nodded. "Yeah. Our table's back here."
He followed her into the dining area and froze. Hikari was sitting at a table by herself. Before he could even ask, Sora was pushing him towards his sister. "I don't know what's going on with the two of you, but you're going to talk to each other."
They sat in silence while they studied their menus. Taichi reached for his straw but it slipped from his hand and landed on the floor.
Hikari jumped to her feet. "I'll get it."
Taichi gritted his teeth. She was babying him again! "I'll just drink from the cup."
Hikari plopped back into her seat. Her shoulder started to twitch. "I-I'm sorry."
She was sorry? "For what?"
"For being a pain to you since the accident. I tried to help you but I guess I was just annoying. I'm sorry for not doing the right things. I'm sorry I wasn't as helpful as our friends. I want to help you. I want to see you at your games."
So she knew about that.
"I want to be able to talk to you again. I'm sorry. Please forgive me."
He stared at his lap. She was just trying to help him? No, she was babying him! But, if she was babying him, then why was Yamato and Sora and the others helping him? Why was his sister annoying and his friends weren't? He thought of his wheelchair getting stuck in the street or something and Hikari jumping in front of him as a car raced towards them. This was replaced with him shielding Hikari during the Hikarigaoka incident.
The realization washed up from his chest and out his eyes in tears.
"Taichi?" Hikari asked.
"Hikari…" He swallowed. "Hikari, it's not your fault." He banged his fist on the armrest of his chair. "I couldn't stand being in this damn chair. I couldn't stand having everyone staring at me." He met her eyes, "But I…I couldn't stand for you, of all people, to see me like this. I'm the older one, I'm the big brother. I just couldn't deal with the fact that you were taking care of me."
Hikari darted around the table and wrapped her arms around him. "You're my big brother, and no matter what, you'll always be my big brother!" She looked him in the eyes, "And I know that, no matter what, no matter what happens, if I'm in trouble, you'll be there for me, just like I'll always be there for you."
Taichi grabbed her in a hug of his own. "Hikari, I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I…"
He trailed off as she squeezed him even tighter.
Day 8
Taichi finished the set on the weight machine and then wiped his forehead with a towel. He started for the bathroom but Hikari darted out of the kitchen with a glass of water. "Do you want something to drink?"
Taichi was about to bark that he could do it himself but he bit his tongue. "Yeah, thank you."
She watched him drink it and then took the empty glass. "So, what are you going to do today?"
It was Monday but they had off from school for some reason. He'd lost track of the national holidays. "Um, Koshiro said he was coming over in a little while."
She nodded but had an expectant look in her eyes. "Do you want to do something?" he asked.
She smiled quickly but then dropped it just as fast. "Um, if you want to."
She wanted to hang out with him but was afraid to ask. He damaged-almost destroyed-their relationship. He needed to repair it. "Yeah, sure. Wanna play some video games? Like Mario Party"
She smiled slightly. "I'm not very good at it, but, okay."
An hour later, Taichi glared at his sister. Not very good? She had eight stars and almost two hundred coins, twice the amount he did.
Koshiro came over soon after that. His hair was frizzier than usual and he had dark bags under his eyes. It looked like he hadn't slept for days. "I think I might have made a breakthrough in the program. I just need to scan your data again."
Taichi nodded. "Sure, go for it."
He used the same wand-scanner as before and then started typing on his laptop. "Just let me run the program and…"
A low beep emerged from the device while the green text turned red. "No!" he screamed.
"Koshiro?" Hikari asked.
He groaned and rubbed his eyes. "Ten times! I tried ten times and each time I failed! No matter what I tried, what program I wrote, what processor I used, the error in Taichi's data is still there. I can't get rid of them. If I can't do it in a simulator, then it's impossible!"
He screamed and dropped to his knees. "I failed. I can't do this." He turned to Taichi. "I'm sorry, I can't fix this."
Taichi gapped. "Koshiro, you don't have to fix anything. I never said you did."
"But you were so…"
He trailed off but Taichi could guess what he was going to say: angry, mad, grumpy, any of those words. "Never mind about me. This isn't your problem. I…"
He looked down at his legs. He knew they were there, knew they were part of him, but they were almost alien as if they were there but not there at the same time. Despite that, despite how much of an ass he'd been to everyone, his friends never gave up on him. He still had them; he still had his sister. He was playing sports again; he was going to university and was going to be a politician. He was still alive, he still had a future, he still had a life.
He smiled. "I guess I'm good as is." He gestured to the other Gamecube controllers. "Wanna play? Maybe the two of us together can beat Hikari."
Koshiro stammered and then laughed. "Yeah, sure."
End Chapter 8 of 8.
Author's Note: I know I glossed over the Digital World but this story just felt move about the 'real' world, if that makes sense. I just felt that if I talked too much about the Digital World, it could be a kind of escape for Taichi when he needed to deal with things such as his relationship with the others and his future.
As always, thanks for reading.