Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or any of the characters from that show. Although there are some things in life that I do own, the rights to the show are not one of them. (I forgot to put the disclaimer on the first chapter's page, so this is as good a place for it as any. ;-) )
Chapter Two
The Virus Strikes
By: Lady Ava
Upon reaching the Kayima's apartment, the seven teens became very uncomfortable. Something just didn't seem right. The air felt different and the sky had darkend ever since the time Tai had left from school and thunder began to roll across the sky.
As Kari reached out to open the doorknob, a crash of loud thunder shot through the city. Looking back at the sky, the young girl's eyes narrowed. "I don't like this." She stated.
"You don't like what?" T.K. asked, becoming concerned for his girl.
"This storm…it's a warning. Something bad is going to happen." She told the others, opening the door. Walking into the entrance, Kari called to her mother. "Mom! We're here!"
Looking down the hallway, the seven teens saw Mrs. Kayima come out of her son's room, her face graced with a grim expression. She held a small container that had a towel hanging over the edge of it. Looking down at the teens, the woman smiled. "Hello everyone. Are you here to see Tai?" She asked.
Bowing, the teens, minus Kari, answered. "Yes, Mrs. Kayima."
"Alright. Just be very quiet. Tai has a very bad headache and his blinds are shut." She stated sweetly, as she walked into the kitchen. "Kari, could you please bring this in as you go?" The woman asked, handing her daughter back the container of cold water. "Just put a fresh cloth on your brother's head." She added.
Nodding, Kari led the others into the darkened bedroom of her brother. The door was left opened a crack so that they could see somewhat. That's when they saw Tai. He was under at least six heavy blankets and he was completely still. His breath was heavy as he lay there, heaving in and out every breath he could draw in.
Walking over to her brother, Kari sat down next to his bed. Removing the towel from his forehead, she dipped it into the cool water. Ringing it out, she reached over and placed it back onto her brother's head. As she pulled her hand away, Tai hand reached up and grabbed it lightly. "Kari?" He asked weakly.
"Tai, you're awake." She said, motioning for the others to come over.
The leader of the Digidestined seemed to have reached a downfall. Tai's hair was stuck to his forehead and he was as pale as his white sheets. The other teens could see the beads of sweat running down the side of his face as he tried to sit up.
"Don't try to sit up yet, Tai." Sora told the sick teen softly.
Looking at Sora, Tai smiled a bit. "Why are you here?" He asked.
"To see you. We said we come over after school. Don't you remember?" Matt told his best friend, trying not to sound as if he were angry.
Closing his eyes, Tai fell backwards onto his bed. "I…don't really remember anything from today." He explained.
As the others watched, Tai went limp in his bed, his breath seemingly slower than before. "I think we should go, Kari." T.K. whispered.
"Alright. I think that would be wise. I'll see ya tomorrow." She agreed, kissing her boyfriend goodbye.
"Tell Tai we'll be back to see him." Izzy added as they began to leave.
Smiling, Kari nodded. "Alright. Bye guys."
Tai sat up in his bed; the cloth on his head falling onto his sweat covered sheets. Looking around his room, the teen panted heavily. His breath was short and his head was spinning. Looking over at his alarm clock, the large red numbers read, '9:00pm'. 'Damnit, I can't sleep. I feel like I'm dying…'
Suddenly, a rushing pain rushed through Tai's chest. It felt like his lungs were filling with water. He gasped for air, but couldn't seem to get enough air into his body. With the last bit of breath he could muster, Tai called, "Mom!"
Flopping back into bed, Tai could feel himself drifting in and out of the living world. The door to his room flew opened and Mrs., Mr., and Kari Kayima rushed into his room. Running over to her son, Tai's mother felt Tai's forehead. "Oh no! Kari call 911!" She shouted to her daughter.
Sora and the others were at T.K.'s mother's apartment. Since it was the closest place to the Kayima's, they figured they could hang out there.
As they sat on the terrace, the sound of an ambulance rushed by under the balcony. The sound of the horn and the sirens echoed through the warm night Tokyo air as it rushed to its call.
"I wonder where it's going." Mimi asked as Matt placed an arm around his girlfriend's waist.
Joe and Izzy sat at the table with the others, looking through one of Joe's many medical books. They all scanned through the pages, hoping to see something that was related to Tai's symptoms. "I haven't seen anything in here that looks like what Tai has." Sora said.
"Don't worry. We'll find something." Joe stated reassuringly.
Suddenly, the phone rang. Standing, T.K. ran inside to answer the call. As he picked up the receiver and placed it to his ear, he spoke. "Hello?" As T.K. grew silent, the other teens came inside. While they sat down on the couch, they heard T.K's voice change to a serious tone. "Okay Kari. Just breathe. They went where? Yea? Okay, we'll be there in less than five minutes."
Slamming the phone down, the blond haired teen turned to the other Digidestined. "Tai was taken to the hospital. His lunges are full of blood and he's dead to the world. They don't know what's wrong with him." He stated in a rushed tone, heading for the door.
Sora shot from her chair. "Let's go. Kari and Tai need us." She told the others, as light tears began to form in her eyes.
Arriving at the hospital, the seven teens ran up to the main desk in the ER. "Excuse me. Where has Taichi Kayima been taken?" Matt asked, sounding very mature for sixteen.
"Are you family?" The nurse asked, her eyes remaining locked on the computer screen.
"Well, no." We're his friends and I'm his girlfriend." Sora stated sheepishly.
Looking up from her work, the blond haired nurse sighed. "If you aren't family, then you can't see him." She explained, sounding not the least bit interested in what she had to say.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called from across the waiting room. "Guys!" Kari yelled.
Turning from the desk, the teens saw Kari pushing her way through the crowds. Rushing from the mob, the younger of the two Kayima's ran into her boyfriend's arms, crying heavily. "T.K…. It was so horrible. He just fell limp in my mom's arms and then began to cough up blood. And when the medics arrived…" She tried to continue, but she broke down even more into T.K's chest.
"Shh. It's going to be alright." He whispered. "Where is he?"
Pulling away, Kari pointed towards the elevator. "He's in the OR. They are trying to drain the blood from his lunges."
"Come on. Let's go see your parents." Matt told the tearing teen gently.
Nodding, Kari led the others towards the elevator. Pressing one of the higher numbers, she and the others waited in silence. When the doors opened, the seven teens were met with Kari's parents. "Mom. Dad. How's Tai?" The girl asked quickly, stepping into the elevator with the others close behind.
"He is out of the OR and is in a room now. We were coming to get you." Mr. Kayima explained, holding his wife close.
As the doors closed behind them, the Digidestined began to ask questions. "Mr. Kayima, what is Tai's condition? What does he have?" Joe questioned.
Holding Mrs. Kayima closer, he turned to the teens. "The doctors are running tests as we speak. Tai's in the intensive care unit and is hooked up to a breathing machine and a heart monitor."
When the doors reopened, the Kayima's led the way down the busy hallway towards the intensive care wing. As they walked through the cold white corridor, Kari held onto T.K. a bit tighter. Looking down at the girl on his arm, the teen asked, "Are you okay?"
"This place…I don't like it here. I was once here and I prayed that no one I know would ever end up in here like I did." She said her voice shaking.
Upon reaching the doors to the wing, the group was met with complete silence. There was no sound from anywhere around them, except the soft murmur of doctors and nurses. The hallway was panted a creamy white color with a checkered floor. Chairs were placed outside each room for the families of the patents. There were windows outside of the rooms that either had the curtains drawn or opened to reveal an empty room.
"They said he is in I15." Mr. Kayima told the other teens, glancing behind him at the group of teens.
As they continued to walk down the long corridor, a young woman doctor approached them. She was dressed in a set of green scrubs and her red hair was in a low ponytail. She wore a stethoscope around her neck and had a pair of glasses in her pocket. "Mr. Kayima, how are you holding up?" The woman asked as she removed the stethoscope from around her neck.
"We're doing okay." Tai's father stated calmly.
The teens looked at the doctor in question. Smiling the physician bowed. "I'm sorry for being rude. I'm Doctor Keroshimo. I'm Tai's doctor."
Sora looked at the woman, hoping to receive some kind of good news. "How is Tai? Is he okay?"
Becoming serious, Dr. Keroshimo turned away from the group. "Follow me." As they walked with woman down the hallway, she began her evaluation. "Well, Tai has suffered extreme exhaustion from hacking up a large amount of blood and he has a high fever. We managed to drain the blood from his lunges before there were any complications. He is resting quietly now, but I'm afraid he is still way too weak for any visitors." She told them as she halted in front of room I15.
Looking through the window, the Digidestined saw their once thought to be unbeatable leader lying unconscious in a hospital bed. He was hooked up to a respirator and had a whole bunch of different machines as well around him. He was drained completely of his color and his hair stuck to his brow because of his sweat. Tai was breathing in a steady pace now, but every breath looked at if it were hard for him to do.
Sora placed her hand onto the glass. She felt so helpless as she stood there, watching her boyfriend. 'Tai please get better soon. I love you too much to loose you.' She thought as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
Joe placed a hand onto the crying girl's shoulder. "It's going to be alright Sora. Tai's tough. He can beat this thing."
"Visiting hours are now over. Would all visitors please exit the build now." A voice announced over the intercom.
Turning to the group before her, Dr. Keroshimo smiled. "Because your son is in such an unstable state, I give you be permission to stay as long as you want." She told the Kayima family and friends. Bowing she turned towards the elevators. "I have other patents that I must visit, but I'll be back shortly to check on Tai." And with that, she turned a corner and was gone.
"Do you kids want to stay?" Mr. Kayima asked, grabbing the teens' attention.
"Yes sir. If that isn't too much trouble?" Izzy asked politely.
Smiling Mrs. Kayima wiped her eyes. "It's no trouble at all."
Turning back to the window, Sora smiled at Tai. 'I hope you know that we are all here for you Tai. Please come back to us soon.' And so began the longest night of the Digidestined's lives.
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~ So, what do you guys (or girls) think so far? Please read and review. More to come in the next chapters. ~