Earthquake!
By Empress of the Eclipse
Disclaimer - No, Digimon isn't mine.
YAOI! Contains TAITO, DAIKEN and one-sided KOUCHI.
CHARACTER DEATHS!!!!!!!!!!!
(Yeah, okay, so in Japan they've got buildings that are meant to withstand all this stuff. It's a fanfic, let's not get picky).
Davis opened his eyes to pitch blackness. Someone was shaking him.
"Ow. Jun, get off, I don't want to get up, it must be about midnight" he mumbled.
"Davis, it's me Ken! Come on, wake up, please! I'm scared!"
"Ken?"
Davis sat up and regretted it. Little jolts of pain shot though his body.
"Ah!"
"Are you okay?"
"Everything hurts," Davis said "What happened? Where are we?"
"Don't you remember?"
Davis frowned. They'd been celebrating Matt's eighteenth birthday party. About six of Matt's neighbours had already complained about the noise. Then there'd been a rumbling and then someone had shouted "Earthquake!" and then.....
"Shit!" Davis gasped "Ken, where are we?"
"We're trapped somewhere under Matt's apartment building," Ken said flatly.
Davis swallowed, trying to get his thoughts in order.
"Are you all right?"
"My leg hurts," Ken said "And I think my head's bleeding."
Davis lightly ran his fingers over Ken's forehead until Ken gave a slight hiss. Davis could feel the dampness.
"I don't think it's that bad," he said "Your leg?"
"I can't tell. Just sprained I think," Ken said "But I can't walk on it. I've tried."
Davis carefully got to his feet.
"How'd we get down here?" he asked "What happened? The last thing I remember was someone yelling earthquake and then it's kind of a blur."
"I'm not sure," Ken said "I remember whoever it was yelling, then you grabbed my arm and then the floor sort of......gave way."
"But Matt's apartment's up on the sixth floor," Davis said.
"I know," Ken said "But that's what I remember. And the next thing I remember was opening my eyes here. You were next to me, still unconscious."
"What about the others?" Davis asked.
"I saw Joe grab Kari," Ken said "And I think I saw Mimi get out. But I'm not sure."
Davis began to move.
"Davis, don't go," Ken said "I can't move and I'm....I'm scared."
"It's okay," Davis said soothingly "I'll be back in a moment. I just want to see where we are."
He ran his hands carefully along the walls. They were solid concrete but there were cracks in them, making Davis wonder about the safety of their prison. In most places he couldn't touch the ceiling but in one place he could.
"Okay," he said "I think that we're in the basement. The ceiling has slipped and there's slabs of concrete and stuff above us. But we should be safe enough until someone digs us out."
"Oh," Ken said.
Davis began to make his way back to Ken. He stopped when his foot bumped against something soft. Kneeling down, he touched it, trying to determine what it was.
"AAAAAH!"
* * * *
Kari stood, staring at the wreckage of the apartment building. About a quarter of it was still standing, the rest of it was in ruins around her. She could see people clinging to the remainder of the building, screaming and crying. People around her were panicking, yelling and shouting. Other people were trying to dig people out of the rubble. Some, like her, were just watching.
"Kari?"
She looked at Joe. He'd disappeared but now he'd appeared again, clutching a drink of some kind.
"Drink that," he ordered.
Kari gulped it down obediently. It was hot sugary tea.
"Joe, have you....?"
"No," Joe interrupted her "I've seen other kids but none of the Digidestined."
Kari gulped. She looked at the ruins again.
"Joe, what can we do?" she asked.
"I have to help with wounded people," Joe said "I know stuff about that and they'll need all the help they can get. You should go home."
"No! I'm not leaving till we've found Tai!" Kari said.
"I knew you'd say that," Joe said "Then volunteer to help. They can use any hands."
Kari nodded.
"You're sure you don't know what happened to the others?" she asked timidly.
Joe nodded, his face etched with worry-lines.
"Sorry Kari," he said.
Kari went off and began to help people dig in the ruins. All the time, she watched for the others.
'Please let my brother be okay....'
* * * *
"Tai? Tai?"
It sounded like Koromon was calling to him again.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Tai muttered.
"Tai, wake up!"
Tai opened his eyes and found himself staring straight up into Matt's. Matt was lying spread-eagled on top of him. He was using his elbows to support himself so he wasn't completely squashing Tai but his weight was still pressing on Tai.
"Ow! Matt, move!"
"I can't!" Matt said.
Tai tried to shift himself. There was a funny weight on his legs....
"Don't!" Matt whispered, his eyes panicked. Tai suddenly noticed a trickle of blood beside his hair-line.
Then Tai remembered.
"Oh shit! Oh shit, shit, shit, shit!"
"Yeah. My sentiments exactly," Matt said. He shivered.
"Where are we?" Tai asked.
"Trapped under the rubble somewhere," Matt said "In a bathtub to be more precise. There's a beam or something that's protected us mostly but our legs are buried in rubble."
Tai gulped.
"Are you okay?"
"I can't feel my legs," Matt said "And TK....what's happened to TK?"
"I'm sure he's fine," Tai said quickly "Matt, it's gonna be okay. I swear."
He realised that Matt was shivering and guessed that he was going into shock.
"Matt, breathe," he ordered "Now, tell me what you remember."
"Someone yelled earthquake," Matt said slowly "And everyone was trying to get out. I realised it was pointless and then cracks were appearing in the ceiling and walls and someone - I think it was Yolei - yelled 'Take cover!' And I was looking for TK but then something hit me on the head and I passed out. When I opened I eyes, I was on top of you in this bathtub. I tried to move but the rubble shifted and I didn't want to start an avalanche. I just tried to wake you up."
Tai nodded. He was trawling though his own hazy memories of the event.
"I remember you passing out," he said slowly "A lump of plaster from the ceiling hit you. I grabbed you before you could fall and tried to get you to somewhere were you wouldn't get trampled on. I wasn't thinking very clearly so I pulled you into the bathroom. And that's where my memories peter out. I don't know what happened after that."
Matt shivered.
"I hope air's getting though the rubble," he said "I don't fancy suffocating in the bathtub."
"There's not enough room," Tai said. He squirmed a little, trying to get more space. The rubble about them shifted.
"Tai, stop!" Matt said "It might collapse on us! Please try and stay still."
Tai nodded. He lay there nervously.
"Did you see what happened to the others?"
"I saw Davis and Ken. I don't know what happened to them though. And I saw Izzy dodging some falling plaster. But nobody else."
Tai sighed.
"I don't think I saw anybody," he said "I remember getting jostled by everyone and grabbing you. I think I saw Mimi. But that's about all I remember."
"I still can't feel my legs," Matt whispered.
"I can't feel any of my body," Tai said, trying to make light of it.
Matt was in no mood for jokes.
"I should be able to feel them," he said "But I can't."
"Well, can you feel everything else?" Tai asked.
Matt shrugged.
"I can feel all of my upper body," he said "But I can't feel my legs! Tai, what if I'm paralysed? What if....?"
"Stop," Tai said firmly "Everything's going to be okay. They'll dig us out soon. We just have to hang on a little longer okay?"
Matt took a deep gasping breath.
"Yeah."
Tai smiled. He wished he was as confident as he sounded. He was worried about the others and worried about himself too. They'd been up on the sixth floor and were now buried in a pile of rubble. The building must have completely collapsed. Six floors were a long way to fall.....
Tai swallowed. He noticed Matt watching him and smiled again, hoping that his friend would be reassured. He was also hoping that they'd get out soon.
* * * *
"AHHHHHHH!"
"Davis! Davis, what's wrong?"
"Oh God!" Davis hissed "Oh God Ken, there's a body down here!"
"A....a body? Are they....."
"Dead? I think so," Davis said "They...they aren't breathing....."
"CPR?"
"I...I don't think I can," Davis stammered "I can't remember how.....and they.....it's a girl.....she...oh God...."
"Davis, come here. Come back to me."
Davis crawled over until he found Ken. Ken hugged him as he shivered.
"Breathe Davis. Breathe okay? It's all right."
"She's dead," Davis whispered "She could be anyone. She could be Sora. Or Mimi. Or Kari. Or Yolei. I can't see....."
"Davis, I'm sure it isn't," Ken whispered "Just don't crack now all right? I need you. Don't leave me all alone down here...."
Davis swallowed.
"Don't worry Ken. I won't," he said "I'm the leader. Tai wouldn't crack. He'd think....."
"They'll dig us out soon," Ken said "They'll be searching for survivors....all we have to do is wait."
"Yeah," Davis agreed. He found himself hugging Ken tighter "At least I'm not alone."
"No," Ken said. He stroked Davis's hair gently "At least we're together."
The two of them huddled in a corner, trying not to think about the crumpled body lying over in the other corner of the basement, a body which could have easily been one of them.
* * * *
Sora's eyes flickered open. She was sprawled on her back looking at the stars.
'That's funny' she thought muzzily 'I can't normally see the stars in bed.'
Then she woke up properly, heard the cries and screams around her. She jerked up, wincing as pain shot though her. She remembered what had happened now. She'd been partying, the earthquake had begun, she'd run out and been going downstairs when everything had started to shake really badly and she'd fallen head-over-heels and then she'd banged her head and staggered into someone else's apartment and then....
Sora tried to gauge where she was but she didn't recognise anything. She had somehow been flung a little way away where the rescuers hadn't yet reached. She carefully assessed herself, trying to see where she was hurt. Her legs were okay except for a few cuts. Her right arm felt completely fine but her left arm hurt badly. Her shoulder wouldn't let her move it much. Hugging her arm to her, she staggered up to her feet, looking around for anyone else. She could see things strewn across the rubble, things that were strangely out of place. Toys. Clothes. Furniture. A fridge....
Sora gasped and rushed over. She could see somebody under the fridge.
"Hello? Hello? Are you.....Izzy!"
Izzy was lying crumpled under the fridge. His face was completely white, his mouth was slack. Sora reached out and felt for a pulse. She could feel it beating.
"Izzy! Izzy, wake up!"
Izzy's eyes flickered.
"Hey Sora," he whispered.
"Are you okay?" Sora asked "Oh...stupid question."
"I'm okay," Izzy said faintly "It doesn't hurt much...."
"Okay, I'm gonna try and lift this off you," Sora said.
She should have known it was stupid. Even with two arms it would have been near impossible. With only one, it was impossible. Izzy gave a groan and she desisted.
"God Izzy, I'm sorry," she said.
"Don't be. You're just.....just trying to help. Ah!"
Izzy ended his sentence with a small gasp of pain.
"Izzy, I'm going to go and get help," Sora said.
"No! No! Don't leave me!"
Sora paused.
"Izzy, you need help," she said.
"Sora, please."
Sora sighed. Sitting down, she felt under the fridge until she found Izzy's hand. She gripped it tightly.
"The others?" Izzy asked.
"I saw Yolei ducking under a table," Sora said "And Mimi was ahead of me. I think I saw Joe and Kari get out too."
"Tai?"
"I don't know. I think he was with Matt," Sora said.
Izzy gave a small sigh. Sora blinked, confused. Then she shrugged.
"The rescuers will be here soon," she said "We've just landed in a very quiet place somehow. I can see lights over there. They'll be here soon."
"I know," Izzy said "Just....just don't leave me."
Sora nodded.
"I won't."
* * * *
"Here's somebody!"
Kari looked over instantly. She didn't recognise the person who was being lifted from the rubble. Swallowing, she turned back to her own task.
"Kari! Kari!"
Kari nearly dropped the brick she was holding. Iori was running over.
"Iori! Are you okay?"
Iori nodded.
"I think so," he said "Where are the others?"
"Joe's helping with the medical side of things. I haven't seen anybody else," Kari said.
Iori looked upset.
"What happened to you?" Kari asked.
"I got outside before the real earthquake began. I managed to avoid getting knocked over by anything and took shelter. I only just got back here," Iori said.
Kari shrugged.
"Will you help me?"
Iori nodded. Then he paused.
"What's that smell?"
Kari frowned and sniffed too. She looked around.
"I don't.....smoke," she said slowly "It's smoke."
Iori pointed. Kari could see the glimmer of flames. It was still quite a distance away but even so.....
"We need to hurry," she said "If that fire gets to the ruins...."
She didn't finish her sentence. She wasn't sure if Iori understood anyway. He began to help her move the rubble.
* * * *
"Do you think we'll be down here much longer?" Davis asked.
"We just have to wait," Ken said "I'm sure that it won't be long. They've got lots of things to do."
Davis nodded before remembering that Ken couldn't see him.
"Ken," he said "If no light can get here, where's the air coming from?"
"The air came come though cracks and things that light can't get though," Ken said tiredly "Ah -!"
"What?"
"I tried to move my leg."
"I think it's broken."
"Thanks for the thought. What's that?"
Davis paused. He'd heard something too.
"Maybe they're getting though!"
"No. It didn't sound like people."
"Maybe it's rats."
"Thanks Davis."
The two boys continued to huddle in their corner, waiting.
* * * *
"Tai," Matt said "Can you smell something?"
Tai sniffed uncertainly.
"Yes," he said thoughtfully "It's like.....smoke."
"Smoke," Matt whispered "Fire."
Tai swallowed.
"We'll be all right," he said.
"Will you stop saying that?" Matt shouted "Tai, if there's a fire up there, we'll either barbecue or suffocate! Or explode if there's a gas leak anywhere! All in all, we're screwed!"
"No!" Tai said "They'll find us, they will! They'll be searching...."
"Why haven't they already found us then?" Matt asked "Why aren't we already safe?"
Tai said nothing. He stared up into Matt's blue eyes, trying to send a feeling of safety to him. It wasn't working.
"I hope TK's okay," Matt whispered suddenly. He'd been supporting himself using his arms but they suddenly gave way, dropping him down heavily onto Tai's torso. Tai gave a yelp of protest but didn't say anything. He could feel Matt's tears soaking his shoulder. With difficulty, he wrapped an arm round Matt's shoulders, trying to soothe him.
"It's okay," he whispered "It's okay, it's okay, it's okay....."
He whispered it over and over again, wishing that it would make him feel less scared too.
* * * *
The fire was spreading steadily closer to Matt's ex-apartment building. People were frantically trying to douse the flames. Kari dug faster, watching the flames inching closer and shivering.
"Maybe Tai's already out?" Iori suggested beside her "Maybe he's already out and they've already taken him to hospital."
"Maybe," Kari whispered. She pushed a strand of hair out of her face and kept digging. Her hand struck something soft. She began to clear at the rubble and realised that she had found a leg.
"I've found someone!" she yelled "Iori, dig there! We need to uncover the face!"
Other people were rushing over to help. Kari dug frantically, hoping that the person was still alive. Slowly, the person was revealed. And Kari recognised him.
"TK!"
* * * *
Sora blinked. She must have passed out again because she was sprawled next to the fridge, still holding Izzy's hand. She looked up and then stared.
"Izzy! Izzy, there's a fire?"
"What? Oh yes. Well, that's likely. Often happens in earthquakes," Izzy said.
"Izzy, we've got to get you out!" Sora said "If you let me go for help...."
"No!"
Sora sighed. She didn't know why Izzy was so scared of being left alone but she didn't want to upset him. She tried yelling for help but no one had heard. Probably drowned out by all the others cries for help that she could hear. Sora swallowed.
"Izzy, please let me go for help," she said "I wouldn't be gone long."
"I don't want to be alone. I don't want to....."
His voice trailed off and he gave Sora's hand a gentle squeeze.
"Okay," Sora said "I'll wait."
She sighed. She looked at Izzy. His face was even paler than before.
"Are you in a lot of pain?" she asked.
"Not really," Izzy said "It's just cold."
Sora looked around but she couldn't see anything she could use to help.
"Sorry Izzy," she said.
"I'm not complaining. I was just stating," Izzy said.
They sat silently for a few minutes.
"Do you think Tai's okay?" Izzy asked.
"I'm sure that they're all fine," Sora said.
She felt Izzy stir a little then settle.
"I hope Tai is okay," he said.
"I didn't realise you two were so close," Sora said. She was afraid that he'd pass out, was trying to keep him awake.
"We're not," Izzy said "At least, he's not close to me anyway."
"You're friends," Sora said.
"I know. But that's not what I wanted."
Sora frowned.
"You mean....oh!"
She was a little surprised but she wasn't the Keeper of Love for nothing. It didn't bother her exactly, just gave her a slight shock.
"I never realised you felt that way before."
"No. No one ever did," Izzy said "I always made sure of that. I didn't want to freak Tai out."
"I'm sure that he wouldn't freak out," Sora said, not entirely truthfully.
"Liar," Izzy said "We both know Tai. He'd have freaked."
"Well....maybe," Sora said "But afterwards, he'd have...."
"I've always liked him," Izzy said "Right from camp. I admired him like anything. He was athletic and popular and girls liked him. I wanted to be like that but I knew that I didn't have a chance at that ever. So I tried not to mind."
Sora nodded uncertainly. She looked around. The fire was creeping closer.
"I didn't realised that I loved him at first. It was just....well a sort of crush. Everyone has a crush on someone. He was the type of person that I would have wanted for an older brother," Izzy said softly "Then we all went into the Digital World. I got to know him better. He actually learned my name. We were friends. Only I knew that I wanted more than that. It took a while, but I finally really did know."
Sora nodded again.
"I used to have a crush on him too," she admitted "When we were in the Digital World."
"I know," Izzy said "I noticed. You weren't the only one."
"Who else did?" Sora asked surprised.
Izzy smiled.
"I didn't think anyone else had ever seen," he said "It was obvious to me, probably because I knew what I was hiding and could see when someone else was trying to conceal the same thing."
"Was it Mimi?" Sora asked "I always thought she liked Joe."
"No. Not Mimi," Izzy said "It was Matt."
"Matt!" Sora gasped.
Izzy nodded.
"Uh huh."
"But those two were always trying to kill each other!" Sora said.
"Denial can be a pretty strong thing," Izzy said "Matt adored Tai, probably more than me. He hid it better than me perhaps. But he was used to covering up his feelings."
"Matt," Sora repeated "Matt's the last person I'd have thought...."
"Yes," Izzy said "But it's true."
Sora said nothing. She wasn't sure what to say.
"Tai likes him you know," Izzy said softly.
"What?"
"Tai likes Matt back," Izzy said "The day one of them finally has the courage to ask the other out, the day they'll both be very, very happy."
"But how can you be so sure?" Sora asked.
"With Matt I could see," Izzy said "As for Tai.....he told me."
"He told you?"
"Yes. I found him sitting in the park one time. I wanted to know what was wrong and he kinda blurted it out."
"Oh," Sora said.
"It hurt," Izzy said "Oh God, it hurt. The only person that I ever really, really liked....telling me that they were in love with their best friend who I knew shared their feelings."
"I'm sorry," Sora said. She didn't know what else to say.
"You know the worst thing?" Izzy said.
"What?"
"I didn't tell him," Izzy whispered "I didn't tell him that Matt loved him. I just sat with him and comforted him while he said that he didn't think the Matt could ever like him back. I didn't tell him that I knew that Matt returned those feelings. I just let him continue to think that Matt couldn't love him. I claim to love him but I never, ever told him."
"Oh Izzy," Sora said "Oh Izzy, it's not your fault. I'm sure I'd have done the same thing and I'm the Keeper of Love!"
Izzy gave a half-sob. Sora squeezed his hand.
"That was before the new Digidestined came," he said faintly "I've let all this time go by and they've never yet admitted it to each other. And now.... now they might never."
"Izzy, don't talk like that!" Sora said "I'm sure that both Tai and Matt are fine, just fine! You hear me? Whatever happens, it's not your fault!"
"Sora," Izzy said faintly "Will you help them?"
"What?"
"Help then get together," Izzy said "If they both make it though, you help them get together without ever telling them that I knew. I could never do that but you've got the Crest of Love so you'll be able to do it. Okay?"
Sora nodded.
"Okay," she said instantly "I promise Izzy. I'll help them."
Izzy smiled. He relaxed.
"Sora," he whispered "You can run and find help now."
Sora released his hand.
"I'll be back soon!" she whispered.
Izzy gave her a smile.
"Bye Sora," he said "Thank you."
"It's okay," Sora said "Don't worry about a thing."
She turned and began to run towards the rescuers, stumbling over the rubble.
"Help!" she called to them "Help!"
She tripped and nearly fell. Someone caught her. Looking up, she realised it was Joe. He had dirt and blood on his face and looked tired but she saw the relief on his face.
"Sora! Thank God!"
"Izzy!" Sora said. She pointed "He's trapped....you have to help him!"
"We will," Joe said "We'll help him. Come on now Sora."
"No, I have to go back!" Sora said "He's...."
"You've done enough," Joe whispered. He carefully lifted her up and carried over to an ambulance "People have already gone to help Izzy. You've done enough."
"They've gone to help him?"
Joe pointed. Looking over, Sora saw people heading in Izzy's direction.
"Good," she said.
Then she fainted.
* * * *
The fire was spreading steadily now. More and more people were struggling to contain it, throwing water over the blaze.
"You know what worries me," one of the people murmured.
"What?"
"All the water is soaking though the rubble. It'll be reaching all the hollows where people are trapped and filling them up with water."
"You mean....?"
"I mean that there's people under there who are going to drown unless they get rescued quick."
* * * *
"Davis, what is that noise?"
Davis had to agree that the noise was getting on his nerves too. It was a sort of bubbling noise.
"It's like water," Ken said
"Good because I'm thirsty," Davis said. He scrambled up and began feeling around, avoid the corner with the body. He didn't move far before there was a splash and feet were getting wet.
"Ken! The cellar's filling with water!"
"WHAT?"
"It's filling with water!" Davis said "There must be a cracked pipe or something, I don't know. But water is coming in and filling up steadily!"
"Oh shit!" Ken said "Oh shit, oh shit. We're going to drown!"
Davis went back to Ken.
"Maybe we should start to yell," he suggested.
"Maybe," Ken agreed faintly.
The two boys began screaming for help as the water got deeper and deeper.
* * * *
Matt had stopped crying. He was supporting himself with his arms again. He and Tai were talking about absolutely nothing, trying to distract themselves from the situation.
"I'm telling you, Voldemort would win!" Tai said "No contest! One Avada Kedavra curse and bam! down he'd go!"
"Yeah, but Angelus is already dead!" Matt said "So the curse wouldn't work would it?"
"True," Tai said "Very true."
"So I'm thinking that Angelus would get to him before Voldemort could think it though," Matt said "And snap! down goes Voldemort."
"Yeah, but what about the Death Eaters?" Tai said "You think they'd just be standing around? Even if Angelus is dead, the Avada Kedavra curse would probably really hurt. So he'd probably yell in pain and stagger and then they'd think of vampire killing curses."
"Angelus is really strong, he'd have prepared himself," Matt insisted.
"No, he can't do that," Tai said "He'd still go vampy and stagger...."
His voice broke off. The rubble was shifting and going heavier. And....
"Matt," he said softly "Don't panic."
"Panicking already," Matt said grimly "What?"
"The rubble is getting wet," Tai said softly.
There was a pause.
"It's going to flood isn't it?" Matt whispered.
"Possibly," Tai said.
Matt gulped.
"Oh God."
Tai could feel him shaking. He could also feel the rubble getting heavier around his legs. It was shifting more now, moving up his legs like quicksand.
"We're going to drown," Matt said "I never thought you could drown in an earthquake."
Tai wanted to give him reassurance but he couldn't think of anything to say. He knew that they weren't all right and they probably wouldn't be okay. He swallowed.
"Sorry."
"I don't know why you're apologising," Matt said "Like you made this happen."
There was a silence.
"Some eighteenth party," Matt said softly.
Tai nodded. He didn't say anything else. He could feel the rubble shifting more and water was beginning to soak his back. He shivered.
"That's cold."
Matt nodded.
"It's chilling my hands," he said "Tai....thanks."
"For what?"
"For looking after me," Matt said "Before when I was upset. And thanks for being such a good friend, even when I was being a total idiot."
"Oh you were never an idiot," Tai said.
Matt raised an eyebrow.
"That's not what you always said!"
Tai laughed. He stared up at Matt. Matt looked back down at him, his eyes sad and tired. Tai paused. The raising his head, he gently pressed his lips to Matt's. He felt Matt jerk with shock.
"Tai.....what are you doing?"
Tai wasn't sure what to say. He just looked up at Matt, trying to communicate his feelings though his eyes. After a moment, Matt leaned down and very gently kissed him back. The water was rising but neither boy noticed, completely absorbed in each other.
Then the rubble gave a violent shift causing them to jerk apart. They could hear voices, incoherently talking above them. After a second, both boys started yelling. There was a silence above them, then they felt the rubble being torn at. Tai felt a blast of cold air hitting his legs as the water began inching over his face.
"Are you both all right?"
"The water's covering my face!" Tai yelled.
"Pull them out. Hurry!"
Tai felt Matt being pulled off him. A moment later, someone dragged him out by his feet.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm.....oh SHIT!"
Pain shot though his body. Most of it was violent pins and needles from lying still for so long. Some of it came from busies and cuts and scrapes.
"Nothing life threatening!" he managed.
"TAI!"
Kari was running towards him. Her clothes were dirty and torn and she was crying. She threw herself into his arms. Tai hugged her.
"Kari! You're okay!"
"Yes! Oh Tai, I was so scared!"
"The others?"
Kari began to cry harder. Tai looked around. He saw that a man was holding Matt in his arms. Matt lay limp and pale like a rag doll. He'd passed out.
"The others?" Tai repeated.
"Joe's safe. So's Iori. I don't know about the others. And TK...."
Tai felt a knock in his stomach.
"TK?"
"He's hurt."
* * * *
"They can't hear us Davis," Ken said "We're wasting time."
"We can't just give up!"
Davis shivered. The water was lapping round his thighs now and coming in faster all the time. They'd had to move from their corner. The rubble was loosened by the water and kept coming down in showers. They were huddled under part of the sloping ceiling, the highest part. Davis was holding Ken in his arms, supporting him. Ken had attempted to put weight on his leg but his leg had simply given way. There was nothing that he could do about it. So Davis was supporting him.
"I'm not giving up Ken!"
Ken shook his head.
"Davis, what else can we do?"
"They have to get us out!" Davis said "I'm not dying down here!"
Ken said nothing. He felt Davis slump suddenly.
"I don't want to die," he said softly.
"Me neither," Ken said.
The two boys remained silent. Davis suddenly swore and ducked away.
"What?"
"The body just bumped against my legs."
"Oh," Ken said.
Then water continued to steadily rise. Davis lifted Ken up slightly higher. It was now lapping around Davis's waist, rising even quicker now.
"Ken," Davis said softly "We're going to die aren't we?"
Ken paused.
"I think so," he said eventually.
"Then there's something I want to tell you."
"Okay," Ken said.
He heard Davis swallow.
"Ken, we're friends," he said "We've been good friends for a while now. And....and well recently I guess I've been feeling more for you than just friendship."
Ken gasped faintly.
"I know it's probably kind of a shock," Davis said "But if we're dying then I don't think it can really hurt. I really, really like you Ken. More than like. I mean, maybe love's slightly too strong a word but like's not really enough."
"Loke?"
"Very funny Ken."
There was a pause. Davis suddenly leaned himself up and kissed Ken, not exactly on the mouth but on the side. Ken paused. The water was lapping round Davis's shoulders now. He wasn't sure what he really felt for Davis but it couldn't hurt.
Ken leaned down and kissed Davis. He felt Davis readjust his arms so he was holding Ken closer.
"I...I think I love you Ken."
Ken paused.
"I love you too Davis."
As their lips met again, the water gently closed over both their heads.
End of Part 1.
Okay, I'm killing at least two people in this fic and I want you to guess which ones (your guess will not influence the out-come in any way but I want to see how obvious it was!) So come on! Once I've got enough reviews and guesses, I'll submit the next part! Get guessing!
By Empress of the Eclipse
Disclaimer - No, Digimon isn't mine.
YAOI! Contains TAITO, DAIKEN and one-sided KOUCHI.
CHARACTER DEATHS!!!!!!!!!!!
(Yeah, okay, so in Japan they've got buildings that are meant to withstand all this stuff. It's a fanfic, let's not get picky).
Davis opened his eyes to pitch blackness. Someone was shaking him.
"Ow. Jun, get off, I don't want to get up, it must be about midnight" he mumbled.
"Davis, it's me Ken! Come on, wake up, please! I'm scared!"
"Ken?"
Davis sat up and regretted it. Little jolts of pain shot though his body.
"Ah!"
"Are you okay?"
"Everything hurts," Davis said "What happened? Where are we?"
"Don't you remember?"
Davis frowned. They'd been celebrating Matt's eighteenth birthday party. About six of Matt's neighbours had already complained about the noise. Then there'd been a rumbling and then someone had shouted "Earthquake!" and then.....
"Shit!" Davis gasped "Ken, where are we?"
"We're trapped somewhere under Matt's apartment building," Ken said flatly.
Davis swallowed, trying to get his thoughts in order.
"Are you all right?"
"My leg hurts," Ken said "And I think my head's bleeding."
Davis lightly ran his fingers over Ken's forehead until Ken gave a slight hiss. Davis could feel the dampness.
"I don't think it's that bad," he said "Your leg?"
"I can't tell. Just sprained I think," Ken said "But I can't walk on it. I've tried."
Davis carefully got to his feet.
"How'd we get down here?" he asked "What happened? The last thing I remember was someone yelling earthquake and then it's kind of a blur."
"I'm not sure," Ken said "I remember whoever it was yelling, then you grabbed my arm and then the floor sort of......gave way."
"But Matt's apartment's up on the sixth floor," Davis said.
"I know," Ken said "But that's what I remember. And the next thing I remember was opening my eyes here. You were next to me, still unconscious."
"What about the others?" Davis asked.
"I saw Joe grab Kari," Ken said "And I think I saw Mimi get out. But I'm not sure."
Davis began to move.
"Davis, don't go," Ken said "I can't move and I'm....I'm scared."
"It's okay," Davis said soothingly "I'll be back in a moment. I just want to see where we are."
He ran his hands carefully along the walls. They were solid concrete but there were cracks in them, making Davis wonder about the safety of their prison. In most places he couldn't touch the ceiling but in one place he could.
"Okay," he said "I think that we're in the basement. The ceiling has slipped and there's slabs of concrete and stuff above us. But we should be safe enough until someone digs us out."
"Oh," Ken said.
Davis began to make his way back to Ken. He stopped when his foot bumped against something soft. Kneeling down, he touched it, trying to determine what it was.
"AAAAAH!"
* * * *
Kari stood, staring at the wreckage of the apartment building. About a quarter of it was still standing, the rest of it was in ruins around her. She could see people clinging to the remainder of the building, screaming and crying. People around her were panicking, yelling and shouting. Other people were trying to dig people out of the rubble. Some, like her, were just watching.
"Kari?"
She looked at Joe. He'd disappeared but now he'd appeared again, clutching a drink of some kind.
"Drink that," he ordered.
Kari gulped it down obediently. It was hot sugary tea.
"Joe, have you....?"
"No," Joe interrupted her "I've seen other kids but none of the Digidestined."
Kari gulped. She looked at the ruins again.
"Joe, what can we do?" she asked.
"I have to help with wounded people," Joe said "I know stuff about that and they'll need all the help they can get. You should go home."
"No! I'm not leaving till we've found Tai!" Kari said.
"I knew you'd say that," Joe said "Then volunteer to help. They can use any hands."
Kari nodded.
"You're sure you don't know what happened to the others?" she asked timidly.
Joe nodded, his face etched with worry-lines.
"Sorry Kari," he said.
Kari went off and began to help people dig in the ruins. All the time, she watched for the others.
'Please let my brother be okay....'
* * * *
"Tai? Tai?"
It sounded like Koromon was calling to him again.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Tai muttered.
"Tai, wake up!"
Tai opened his eyes and found himself staring straight up into Matt's. Matt was lying spread-eagled on top of him. He was using his elbows to support himself so he wasn't completely squashing Tai but his weight was still pressing on Tai.
"Ow! Matt, move!"
"I can't!" Matt said.
Tai tried to shift himself. There was a funny weight on his legs....
"Don't!" Matt whispered, his eyes panicked. Tai suddenly noticed a trickle of blood beside his hair-line.
Then Tai remembered.
"Oh shit! Oh shit, shit, shit, shit!"
"Yeah. My sentiments exactly," Matt said. He shivered.
"Where are we?" Tai asked.
"Trapped under the rubble somewhere," Matt said "In a bathtub to be more precise. There's a beam or something that's protected us mostly but our legs are buried in rubble."
Tai gulped.
"Are you okay?"
"I can't feel my legs," Matt said "And TK....what's happened to TK?"
"I'm sure he's fine," Tai said quickly "Matt, it's gonna be okay. I swear."
He realised that Matt was shivering and guessed that he was going into shock.
"Matt, breathe," he ordered "Now, tell me what you remember."
"Someone yelled earthquake," Matt said slowly "And everyone was trying to get out. I realised it was pointless and then cracks were appearing in the ceiling and walls and someone - I think it was Yolei - yelled 'Take cover!' And I was looking for TK but then something hit me on the head and I passed out. When I opened I eyes, I was on top of you in this bathtub. I tried to move but the rubble shifted and I didn't want to start an avalanche. I just tried to wake you up."
Tai nodded. He was trawling though his own hazy memories of the event.
"I remember you passing out," he said slowly "A lump of plaster from the ceiling hit you. I grabbed you before you could fall and tried to get you to somewhere were you wouldn't get trampled on. I wasn't thinking very clearly so I pulled you into the bathroom. And that's where my memories peter out. I don't know what happened after that."
Matt shivered.
"I hope air's getting though the rubble," he said "I don't fancy suffocating in the bathtub."
"There's not enough room," Tai said. He squirmed a little, trying to get more space. The rubble about them shifted.
"Tai, stop!" Matt said "It might collapse on us! Please try and stay still."
Tai nodded. He lay there nervously.
"Did you see what happened to the others?"
"I saw Davis and Ken. I don't know what happened to them though. And I saw Izzy dodging some falling plaster. But nobody else."
Tai sighed.
"I don't think I saw anybody," he said "I remember getting jostled by everyone and grabbing you. I think I saw Mimi. But that's about all I remember."
"I still can't feel my legs," Matt whispered.
"I can't feel any of my body," Tai said, trying to make light of it.
Matt was in no mood for jokes.
"I should be able to feel them," he said "But I can't."
"Well, can you feel everything else?" Tai asked.
Matt shrugged.
"I can feel all of my upper body," he said "But I can't feel my legs! Tai, what if I'm paralysed? What if....?"
"Stop," Tai said firmly "Everything's going to be okay. They'll dig us out soon. We just have to hang on a little longer okay?"
Matt took a deep gasping breath.
"Yeah."
Tai smiled. He wished he was as confident as he sounded. He was worried about the others and worried about himself too. They'd been up on the sixth floor and were now buried in a pile of rubble. The building must have completely collapsed. Six floors were a long way to fall.....
Tai swallowed. He noticed Matt watching him and smiled again, hoping that his friend would be reassured. He was also hoping that they'd get out soon.
* * * *
"AHHHHHHH!"
"Davis! Davis, what's wrong?"
"Oh God!" Davis hissed "Oh God Ken, there's a body down here!"
"A....a body? Are they....."
"Dead? I think so," Davis said "They...they aren't breathing....."
"CPR?"
"I...I don't think I can," Davis stammered "I can't remember how.....and they.....it's a girl.....she...oh God...."
"Davis, come here. Come back to me."
Davis crawled over until he found Ken. Ken hugged him as he shivered.
"Breathe Davis. Breathe okay? It's all right."
"She's dead," Davis whispered "She could be anyone. She could be Sora. Or Mimi. Or Kari. Or Yolei. I can't see....."
"Davis, I'm sure it isn't," Ken whispered "Just don't crack now all right? I need you. Don't leave me all alone down here...."
Davis swallowed.
"Don't worry Ken. I won't," he said "I'm the leader. Tai wouldn't crack. He'd think....."
"They'll dig us out soon," Ken said "They'll be searching for survivors....all we have to do is wait."
"Yeah," Davis agreed. He found himself hugging Ken tighter "At least I'm not alone."
"No," Ken said. He stroked Davis's hair gently "At least we're together."
The two of them huddled in a corner, trying not to think about the crumpled body lying over in the other corner of the basement, a body which could have easily been one of them.
* * * *
Sora's eyes flickered open. She was sprawled on her back looking at the stars.
'That's funny' she thought muzzily 'I can't normally see the stars in bed.'
Then she woke up properly, heard the cries and screams around her. She jerked up, wincing as pain shot though her. She remembered what had happened now. She'd been partying, the earthquake had begun, she'd run out and been going downstairs when everything had started to shake really badly and she'd fallen head-over-heels and then she'd banged her head and staggered into someone else's apartment and then....
Sora tried to gauge where she was but she didn't recognise anything. She had somehow been flung a little way away where the rescuers hadn't yet reached. She carefully assessed herself, trying to see where she was hurt. Her legs were okay except for a few cuts. Her right arm felt completely fine but her left arm hurt badly. Her shoulder wouldn't let her move it much. Hugging her arm to her, she staggered up to her feet, looking around for anyone else. She could see things strewn across the rubble, things that were strangely out of place. Toys. Clothes. Furniture. A fridge....
Sora gasped and rushed over. She could see somebody under the fridge.
"Hello? Hello? Are you.....Izzy!"
Izzy was lying crumpled under the fridge. His face was completely white, his mouth was slack. Sora reached out and felt for a pulse. She could feel it beating.
"Izzy! Izzy, wake up!"
Izzy's eyes flickered.
"Hey Sora," he whispered.
"Are you okay?" Sora asked "Oh...stupid question."
"I'm okay," Izzy said faintly "It doesn't hurt much...."
"Okay, I'm gonna try and lift this off you," Sora said.
She should have known it was stupid. Even with two arms it would have been near impossible. With only one, it was impossible. Izzy gave a groan and she desisted.
"God Izzy, I'm sorry," she said.
"Don't be. You're just.....just trying to help. Ah!"
Izzy ended his sentence with a small gasp of pain.
"Izzy, I'm going to go and get help," Sora said.
"No! No! Don't leave me!"
Sora paused.
"Izzy, you need help," she said.
"Sora, please."
Sora sighed. Sitting down, she felt under the fridge until she found Izzy's hand. She gripped it tightly.
"The others?" Izzy asked.
"I saw Yolei ducking under a table," Sora said "And Mimi was ahead of me. I think I saw Joe and Kari get out too."
"Tai?"
"I don't know. I think he was with Matt," Sora said.
Izzy gave a small sigh. Sora blinked, confused. Then she shrugged.
"The rescuers will be here soon," she said "We've just landed in a very quiet place somehow. I can see lights over there. They'll be here soon."
"I know," Izzy said "Just....just don't leave me."
Sora nodded.
"I won't."
* * * *
"Here's somebody!"
Kari looked over instantly. She didn't recognise the person who was being lifted from the rubble. Swallowing, she turned back to her own task.
"Kari! Kari!"
Kari nearly dropped the brick she was holding. Iori was running over.
"Iori! Are you okay?"
Iori nodded.
"I think so," he said "Where are the others?"
"Joe's helping with the medical side of things. I haven't seen anybody else," Kari said.
Iori looked upset.
"What happened to you?" Kari asked.
"I got outside before the real earthquake began. I managed to avoid getting knocked over by anything and took shelter. I only just got back here," Iori said.
Kari shrugged.
"Will you help me?"
Iori nodded. Then he paused.
"What's that smell?"
Kari frowned and sniffed too. She looked around.
"I don't.....smoke," she said slowly "It's smoke."
Iori pointed. Kari could see the glimmer of flames. It was still quite a distance away but even so.....
"We need to hurry," she said "If that fire gets to the ruins...."
She didn't finish her sentence. She wasn't sure if Iori understood anyway. He began to help her move the rubble.
* * * *
"Do you think we'll be down here much longer?" Davis asked.
"We just have to wait," Ken said "I'm sure that it won't be long. They've got lots of things to do."
Davis nodded before remembering that Ken couldn't see him.
"Ken," he said "If no light can get here, where's the air coming from?"
"The air came come though cracks and things that light can't get though," Ken said tiredly "Ah -!"
"What?"
"I tried to move my leg."
"I think it's broken."
"Thanks for the thought. What's that?"
Davis paused. He'd heard something too.
"Maybe they're getting though!"
"No. It didn't sound like people."
"Maybe it's rats."
"Thanks Davis."
The two boys continued to huddle in their corner, waiting.
* * * *
"Tai," Matt said "Can you smell something?"
Tai sniffed uncertainly.
"Yes," he said thoughtfully "It's like.....smoke."
"Smoke," Matt whispered "Fire."
Tai swallowed.
"We'll be all right," he said.
"Will you stop saying that?" Matt shouted "Tai, if there's a fire up there, we'll either barbecue or suffocate! Or explode if there's a gas leak anywhere! All in all, we're screwed!"
"No!" Tai said "They'll find us, they will! They'll be searching...."
"Why haven't they already found us then?" Matt asked "Why aren't we already safe?"
Tai said nothing. He stared up into Matt's blue eyes, trying to send a feeling of safety to him. It wasn't working.
"I hope TK's okay," Matt whispered suddenly. He'd been supporting himself using his arms but they suddenly gave way, dropping him down heavily onto Tai's torso. Tai gave a yelp of protest but didn't say anything. He could feel Matt's tears soaking his shoulder. With difficulty, he wrapped an arm round Matt's shoulders, trying to soothe him.
"It's okay," he whispered "It's okay, it's okay, it's okay....."
He whispered it over and over again, wishing that it would make him feel less scared too.
* * * *
The fire was spreading steadily closer to Matt's ex-apartment building. People were frantically trying to douse the flames. Kari dug faster, watching the flames inching closer and shivering.
"Maybe Tai's already out?" Iori suggested beside her "Maybe he's already out and they've already taken him to hospital."
"Maybe," Kari whispered. She pushed a strand of hair out of her face and kept digging. Her hand struck something soft. She began to clear at the rubble and realised that she had found a leg.
"I've found someone!" she yelled "Iori, dig there! We need to uncover the face!"
Other people were rushing over to help. Kari dug frantically, hoping that the person was still alive. Slowly, the person was revealed. And Kari recognised him.
"TK!"
* * * *
Sora blinked. She must have passed out again because she was sprawled next to the fridge, still holding Izzy's hand. She looked up and then stared.
"Izzy! Izzy, there's a fire?"
"What? Oh yes. Well, that's likely. Often happens in earthquakes," Izzy said.
"Izzy, we've got to get you out!" Sora said "If you let me go for help...."
"No!"
Sora sighed. She didn't know why Izzy was so scared of being left alone but she didn't want to upset him. She tried yelling for help but no one had heard. Probably drowned out by all the others cries for help that she could hear. Sora swallowed.
"Izzy, please let me go for help," she said "I wouldn't be gone long."
"I don't want to be alone. I don't want to....."
His voice trailed off and he gave Sora's hand a gentle squeeze.
"Okay," Sora said "I'll wait."
She sighed. She looked at Izzy. His face was even paler than before.
"Are you in a lot of pain?" she asked.
"Not really," Izzy said "It's just cold."
Sora looked around but she couldn't see anything she could use to help.
"Sorry Izzy," she said.
"I'm not complaining. I was just stating," Izzy said.
They sat silently for a few minutes.
"Do you think Tai's okay?" Izzy asked.
"I'm sure that they're all fine," Sora said.
She felt Izzy stir a little then settle.
"I hope Tai is okay," he said.
"I didn't realise you two were so close," Sora said. She was afraid that he'd pass out, was trying to keep him awake.
"We're not," Izzy said "At least, he's not close to me anyway."
"You're friends," Sora said.
"I know. But that's not what I wanted."
Sora frowned.
"You mean....oh!"
She was a little surprised but she wasn't the Keeper of Love for nothing. It didn't bother her exactly, just gave her a slight shock.
"I never realised you felt that way before."
"No. No one ever did," Izzy said "I always made sure of that. I didn't want to freak Tai out."
"I'm sure that he wouldn't freak out," Sora said, not entirely truthfully.
"Liar," Izzy said "We both know Tai. He'd have freaked."
"Well....maybe," Sora said "But afterwards, he'd have...."
"I've always liked him," Izzy said "Right from camp. I admired him like anything. He was athletic and popular and girls liked him. I wanted to be like that but I knew that I didn't have a chance at that ever. So I tried not to mind."
Sora nodded uncertainly. She looked around. The fire was creeping closer.
"I didn't realised that I loved him at first. It was just....well a sort of crush. Everyone has a crush on someone. He was the type of person that I would have wanted for an older brother," Izzy said softly "Then we all went into the Digital World. I got to know him better. He actually learned my name. We were friends. Only I knew that I wanted more than that. It took a while, but I finally really did know."
Sora nodded again.
"I used to have a crush on him too," she admitted "When we were in the Digital World."
"I know," Izzy said "I noticed. You weren't the only one."
"Who else did?" Sora asked surprised.
Izzy smiled.
"I didn't think anyone else had ever seen," he said "It was obvious to me, probably because I knew what I was hiding and could see when someone else was trying to conceal the same thing."
"Was it Mimi?" Sora asked "I always thought she liked Joe."
"No. Not Mimi," Izzy said "It was Matt."
"Matt!" Sora gasped.
Izzy nodded.
"Uh huh."
"But those two were always trying to kill each other!" Sora said.
"Denial can be a pretty strong thing," Izzy said "Matt adored Tai, probably more than me. He hid it better than me perhaps. But he was used to covering up his feelings."
"Matt," Sora repeated "Matt's the last person I'd have thought...."
"Yes," Izzy said "But it's true."
Sora said nothing. She wasn't sure what to say.
"Tai likes him you know," Izzy said softly.
"What?"
"Tai likes Matt back," Izzy said "The day one of them finally has the courage to ask the other out, the day they'll both be very, very happy."
"But how can you be so sure?" Sora asked.
"With Matt I could see," Izzy said "As for Tai.....he told me."
"He told you?"
"Yes. I found him sitting in the park one time. I wanted to know what was wrong and he kinda blurted it out."
"Oh," Sora said.
"It hurt," Izzy said "Oh God, it hurt. The only person that I ever really, really liked....telling me that they were in love with their best friend who I knew shared their feelings."
"I'm sorry," Sora said. She didn't know what else to say.
"You know the worst thing?" Izzy said.
"What?"
"I didn't tell him," Izzy whispered "I didn't tell him that Matt loved him. I just sat with him and comforted him while he said that he didn't think the Matt could ever like him back. I didn't tell him that I knew that Matt returned those feelings. I just let him continue to think that Matt couldn't love him. I claim to love him but I never, ever told him."
"Oh Izzy," Sora said "Oh Izzy, it's not your fault. I'm sure I'd have done the same thing and I'm the Keeper of Love!"
Izzy gave a half-sob. Sora squeezed his hand.
"That was before the new Digidestined came," he said faintly "I've let all this time go by and they've never yet admitted it to each other. And now.... now they might never."
"Izzy, don't talk like that!" Sora said "I'm sure that both Tai and Matt are fine, just fine! You hear me? Whatever happens, it's not your fault!"
"Sora," Izzy said faintly "Will you help them?"
"What?"
"Help then get together," Izzy said "If they both make it though, you help them get together without ever telling them that I knew. I could never do that but you've got the Crest of Love so you'll be able to do it. Okay?"
Sora nodded.
"Okay," she said instantly "I promise Izzy. I'll help them."
Izzy smiled. He relaxed.
"Sora," he whispered "You can run and find help now."
Sora released his hand.
"I'll be back soon!" she whispered.
Izzy gave her a smile.
"Bye Sora," he said "Thank you."
"It's okay," Sora said "Don't worry about a thing."
She turned and began to run towards the rescuers, stumbling over the rubble.
"Help!" she called to them "Help!"
She tripped and nearly fell. Someone caught her. Looking up, she realised it was Joe. He had dirt and blood on his face and looked tired but she saw the relief on his face.
"Sora! Thank God!"
"Izzy!" Sora said. She pointed "He's trapped....you have to help him!"
"We will," Joe said "We'll help him. Come on now Sora."
"No, I have to go back!" Sora said "He's...."
"You've done enough," Joe whispered. He carefully lifted her up and carried over to an ambulance "People have already gone to help Izzy. You've done enough."
"They've gone to help him?"
Joe pointed. Looking over, Sora saw people heading in Izzy's direction.
"Good," she said.
Then she fainted.
* * * *
The fire was spreading steadily now. More and more people were struggling to contain it, throwing water over the blaze.
"You know what worries me," one of the people murmured.
"What?"
"All the water is soaking though the rubble. It'll be reaching all the hollows where people are trapped and filling them up with water."
"You mean....?"
"I mean that there's people under there who are going to drown unless they get rescued quick."
* * * *
"Davis, what is that noise?"
Davis had to agree that the noise was getting on his nerves too. It was a sort of bubbling noise.
"It's like water," Ken said
"Good because I'm thirsty," Davis said. He scrambled up and began feeling around, avoid the corner with the body. He didn't move far before there was a splash and feet were getting wet.
"Ken! The cellar's filling with water!"
"WHAT?"
"It's filling with water!" Davis said "There must be a cracked pipe or something, I don't know. But water is coming in and filling up steadily!"
"Oh shit!" Ken said "Oh shit, oh shit. We're going to drown!"
Davis went back to Ken.
"Maybe we should start to yell," he suggested.
"Maybe," Ken agreed faintly.
The two boys began screaming for help as the water got deeper and deeper.
* * * *
Matt had stopped crying. He was supporting himself with his arms again. He and Tai were talking about absolutely nothing, trying to distract themselves from the situation.
"I'm telling you, Voldemort would win!" Tai said "No contest! One Avada Kedavra curse and bam! down he'd go!"
"Yeah, but Angelus is already dead!" Matt said "So the curse wouldn't work would it?"
"True," Tai said "Very true."
"So I'm thinking that Angelus would get to him before Voldemort could think it though," Matt said "And snap! down goes Voldemort."
"Yeah, but what about the Death Eaters?" Tai said "You think they'd just be standing around? Even if Angelus is dead, the Avada Kedavra curse would probably really hurt. So he'd probably yell in pain and stagger and then they'd think of vampire killing curses."
"Angelus is really strong, he'd have prepared himself," Matt insisted.
"No, he can't do that," Tai said "He'd still go vampy and stagger...."
His voice broke off. The rubble was shifting and going heavier. And....
"Matt," he said softly "Don't panic."
"Panicking already," Matt said grimly "What?"
"The rubble is getting wet," Tai said softly.
There was a pause.
"It's going to flood isn't it?" Matt whispered.
"Possibly," Tai said.
Matt gulped.
"Oh God."
Tai could feel him shaking. He could also feel the rubble getting heavier around his legs. It was shifting more now, moving up his legs like quicksand.
"We're going to drown," Matt said "I never thought you could drown in an earthquake."
Tai wanted to give him reassurance but he couldn't think of anything to say. He knew that they weren't all right and they probably wouldn't be okay. He swallowed.
"Sorry."
"I don't know why you're apologising," Matt said "Like you made this happen."
There was a silence.
"Some eighteenth party," Matt said softly.
Tai nodded. He didn't say anything else. He could feel the rubble shifting more and water was beginning to soak his back. He shivered.
"That's cold."
Matt nodded.
"It's chilling my hands," he said "Tai....thanks."
"For what?"
"For looking after me," Matt said "Before when I was upset. And thanks for being such a good friend, even when I was being a total idiot."
"Oh you were never an idiot," Tai said.
Matt raised an eyebrow.
"That's not what you always said!"
Tai laughed. He stared up at Matt. Matt looked back down at him, his eyes sad and tired. Tai paused. The raising his head, he gently pressed his lips to Matt's. He felt Matt jerk with shock.
"Tai.....what are you doing?"
Tai wasn't sure what to say. He just looked up at Matt, trying to communicate his feelings though his eyes. After a moment, Matt leaned down and very gently kissed him back. The water was rising but neither boy noticed, completely absorbed in each other.
Then the rubble gave a violent shift causing them to jerk apart. They could hear voices, incoherently talking above them. After a second, both boys started yelling. There was a silence above them, then they felt the rubble being torn at. Tai felt a blast of cold air hitting his legs as the water began inching over his face.
"Are you both all right?"
"The water's covering my face!" Tai yelled.
"Pull them out. Hurry!"
Tai felt Matt being pulled off him. A moment later, someone dragged him out by his feet.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm.....oh SHIT!"
Pain shot though his body. Most of it was violent pins and needles from lying still for so long. Some of it came from busies and cuts and scrapes.
"Nothing life threatening!" he managed.
"TAI!"
Kari was running towards him. Her clothes were dirty and torn and she was crying. She threw herself into his arms. Tai hugged her.
"Kari! You're okay!"
"Yes! Oh Tai, I was so scared!"
"The others?"
Kari began to cry harder. Tai looked around. He saw that a man was holding Matt in his arms. Matt lay limp and pale like a rag doll. He'd passed out.
"The others?" Tai repeated.
"Joe's safe. So's Iori. I don't know about the others. And TK...."
Tai felt a knock in his stomach.
"TK?"
"He's hurt."
* * * *
"They can't hear us Davis," Ken said "We're wasting time."
"We can't just give up!"
Davis shivered. The water was lapping round his thighs now and coming in faster all the time. They'd had to move from their corner. The rubble was loosened by the water and kept coming down in showers. They were huddled under part of the sloping ceiling, the highest part. Davis was holding Ken in his arms, supporting him. Ken had attempted to put weight on his leg but his leg had simply given way. There was nothing that he could do about it. So Davis was supporting him.
"I'm not giving up Ken!"
Ken shook his head.
"Davis, what else can we do?"
"They have to get us out!" Davis said "I'm not dying down here!"
Ken said nothing. He felt Davis slump suddenly.
"I don't want to die," he said softly.
"Me neither," Ken said.
The two boys remained silent. Davis suddenly swore and ducked away.
"What?"
"The body just bumped against my legs."
"Oh," Ken said.
Then water continued to steadily rise. Davis lifted Ken up slightly higher. It was now lapping around Davis's waist, rising even quicker now.
"Ken," Davis said softly "We're going to die aren't we?"
Ken paused.
"I think so," he said eventually.
"Then there's something I want to tell you."
"Okay," Ken said.
He heard Davis swallow.
"Ken, we're friends," he said "We've been good friends for a while now. And....and well recently I guess I've been feeling more for you than just friendship."
Ken gasped faintly.
"I know it's probably kind of a shock," Davis said "But if we're dying then I don't think it can really hurt. I really, really like you Ken. More than like. I mean, maybe love's slightly too strong a word but like's not really enough."
"Loke?"
"Very funny Ken."
There was a pause. Davis suddenly leaned himself up and kissed Ken, not exactly on the mouth but on the side. Ken paused. The water was lapping round Davis's shoulders now. He wasn't sure what he really felt for Davis but it couldn't hurt.
Ken leaned down and kissed Davis. He felt Davis readjust his arms so he was holding Ken closer.
"I...I think I love you Ken."
Ken paused.
"I love you too Davis."
As their lips met again, the water gently closed over both their heads.
End of Part 1.
Okay, I'm killing at least two people in this fic and I want you to guess which ones (your guess will not influence the out-come in any way but I want to see how obvious it was!) So come on! Once I've got enough reviews and guesses, I'll submit the next part! Get guessing!