Walk On The Dark Side: Takeru

Walk On The Dark Side: Takeru

[A/N: I'm getting good at this… Takeru's POV now.]

[Disclaimer: Don't own.]

"Takeru, go with Hikari to the hospital." Shinji ordered me, "I'll be there in a little while with Taichi and Yamato. Don't leave Hikari's side." I didn't need to be told to not leave her side. I didn't watch Shinji run down the hall, away from Hikari and I. I couldn't bear to see Hikari in such pain and so quiet, but I was more drawn to her than ever before.

I guess it was because she needed me.

I walked beside Hikari, my arm around her shoulders carefully; leading her towards the white van that Takaniko-san had called for. "Miss Yagami, please come along." the gray-haired woman said, exasperated. Hikari had seen the white van and had frozen. She didn't want to get anywhere near it.

"Hikari, please, come on." I whispered, pulling her slightly closer, "We've got to get you help." I didn't understand what was going on, but I wanted for Hikari to be safe, and well again. Hikari looked up at me with those beautiful eyes, sniffing sadly and in pain. She was begging for my help, I knew it. "'Kari-chan, I swear, on my Crest of Hope, that nothing else will happen." I crossed my heart, crossing over the spot where my Crest once lay.

Hikari nodded and let me guide her.

Hikari had allowed the nurses at the hospital to change her into one of those white smock-like things, and was sitting on the bed, staring at her own lap. "Hikari?" I called softly from the doorway, "Can…I come in?" Hikari sniffed sadly and bowed her head in response, and I walked over.

"Hikari, I…" I tried to speak, but my words were cut off as a burning lump in my throat appeared and I choked. Forcing the bulge down, I said, "'Kari-chan, I swear, I'm going to do everything I can to find the guy who did this to you." Hikari sniffled and turned away sharply. I tried to say something, but Taichi and Yamato ran into the room. I leapt up to my brother and hugged him hard, allowing myself to break down.

Taichi murmured something to his sister, but I didn't hear him. 'Niisan hugged me carefully, gently, and then I heard a loud 'THUD'. I peeled myself away from Yamato and looked towards the door. Shinji had punched the wall and my eyes opened wider. She pulled her hand away and held her bleeding fist in her other hand, staring at the cracked plaster of the wall. A few drops of blood slid down the wall, following the lines of the spider-web crack.

"Kuso." she hissed softly. Then she ran out of the door. I stepped away from Yamato slightly and stared at the open door in wonder. But then I bolted after Shinji, shoving past a doctor to do so. My teacher was already down the hall and heading for the parking lot. Using all my running power, I rushed after her.

I ran out of the sliding doors and looked around. I saw a black car peel out of the lot, and immediately ran after it. I didn't need any hints of where Shinji was going.

I pounded my fist on the door, panting hard. When there was no reply, I slammed my fist against the wood door harder. "Open the door!" I shouted angrily, "Open it!" I rested my hands on my knees and bent low, breathing hard. Suddenly, the door clicked open, and I found myself staring into dark crystal blue eyes.

"Takaishi-san, what's wrong?" a strangely familiar silver-haired boy asked. He stared at me for a while until I suddenly remembered. Two-year-olds didn't go to school. And Vahn Shazaki wouldn't be going to school.

"Uh, Vahn, can you tell me where your Okaasan is?" I meekly asked. "Oh, Okaasan is out in the backyard." Vahn pointed, "She looked really angry when she got out her big jacket." "Arigato!" I said quickly, "You can go back to whatever you were doing now!" He smiled at me and shut the door. I sweatdropped and stared down at the ground. Gods that kid scared me sometimes!

I snuck around to the back of the house and looked around. The grassy backyard that led into tree-filled hills was quiet, and a solitary breeze brushed over everything. Suddenly, I felt the press of a gun barrel against the back of my head. Then I heard the click of it being readied. "So, Takeru, did you think you could get by me?" I heard someone asked.

I turned only slightly and found myself looking up at my teacher. At least, I thought it was my teacher. Certainly this person was as tall as Shinji was, and they were wearing a trenchcoat like Vahn said, but they had…green and red hair and a Russian accent.

"Uh, Shinji-san?" I squeaked. "Yes?" the person smiled, albeit they didn't open their eyes or look towards me. "Uh, did you dye your hair within the time of ten minutes?" I asked the dumbest question that immediately popped into my head.

Shinji opened her eyes and looked sideways at me, still not lowering the gun. Suddenly, she bent over and started laughing. "Of course not!" she laughed, "This is a wig!" She tugged it off quickly and then continued laughing. I weakly chuckled, and then started laughing as well.

"So, what's with the outfit?" I asked. Shinji lay on her back, staring up at the slowly graying-over sky. "I'm going to find the guy who did this to Hikari." she said slowly, as if thinking about it herself. "So?" I questioned, "Why the funky hair and trench?" "If you hadn't noticed, I'm one of the tallest people this little ass knows." Shinji replied, "He'll recognize me in a minute."

"Oh." I said dumbly. "You know, even with all that training as an assassin six years back, I'm still scared out of my mind at even the thought of doing this." she said suddenly, "Me, the great Strider, afraid of someone like him!" "And who is HE?" I asked angrily. Shinji sat up and whispered someone's name into my ear.

"Oh gods…" I breathed. Shinji nodded solemnly and looked towards the sky again. "If I manage to pull this off without a scratch, I'll be lucky." she murmured. "Why not tell Vandemon-san?" I asked, "He could get him without any problem!"

Shinji suddenly twisted and grabbed my collar. "Don't EVER suggest that I leave Vahn alone by himself!" she growled, her sharp canine teeth flashing, "Even if he is that smart, I'd never goddamn leave him by himself until he's older!" I nodded slowly and she shoved me back. "Man, no offense, but I never knew women could be so steadfast about their children's protection." I sighed.

"Hey, you carry around a child inside you for nine months and see how devoted you get to them." Shinji murmured. "So what's your plan?" I asked. "Track him down and drag him to the police." she replied. She checked the bullets in the weapon and slid it into a pocket on her jacket.

"Let me help!" I demanded, "It'll be a better chance if two people look for him!" "No way!" she hissed, "If I let you, and you got hurt, Hikari would never come back to us." "But he could have left Tokyo!" I protested. "No, he wouldn't have." Shinji replied, "He wouldn't think that Hikari would tell anyone, but he can go suck a lemon for all I care."

"What?" I asked. "Never mind." she sighed, "Inside joke. But you aren't going to look for him with me!" "Fine, just promise me that you'll get him and come back." I said, "I wouldn't be able to keep going on if Hikari AND you were gone."

"Gods, don't go all sappy." she said, "Don't freak out! I'll get him." She rolled onto her back and flipped onto her feet. "You head on home." Shinji murmured, "The trail for this will be tomorrow, so I'll be back by then. Ja ne."

"Sayonara." I murmured. Shinji darted down towards the stairs that led to Tokyo, and then vanished from sight. I slowly stood up and started slowly to the stairs.

Only a few minutes after I arrived home, a torrential downpour began. I stared at the black night sky as the rain, thunder, and lightning mixed together to create an ominous tone that set my mood. I was frightened, angry, and sad at the same time. A bolt of lightning settled a few miles away, and thunder rolled through the window. I thought I heard something else, but I shook my head.

And then, I just went to bed.