Note to Disclaimers: I do not and never will own Digimon so please DON'T sure me. I also don't own this song; it's by ADEMA.

A Shadowed Fate (Chap. 3)

Days will come that make no sense

My present situation makes me think too much

It all revolves around you

This life that I'm living is nothing without you

The day seems duller than yesterday. 'I don't know how much longer I can live with this.' Staring at my solemn reflection in the mirror, I begin to question what is real around me. 'Everything is so...distant.' My eyes, dark bags beginning to from, are heavy with burden. 'The cover-up won't work forever Sora.' Ignoring my conscience I step away from the haunting person in the glass window. My backpack lies to the side, papers from school strewn across my gray carpet. The freshly fallen snow blankets the crustily paved road that leads to my nightmare. From my hearing point, the shuffling of my mother's feet awakens me from my sleeplike state. The alarm on my clock rings loudly, the sound poking my ears like knives. 'Time for school.' Lazily I walk over and retrieve my bag from the mess of white sheets. As I exit the door the worried look of my mother flashes through my mind. Letting the heaviness of my burden overcome me I let my head fall to my chest. 'I don't mean to worry you mother...I love you too much. I'm just going to have to hide this.' I close the door gently, the click of the lock confirming my exit.

Silence dawns as I walk to school. Footprints from my snow boots are cut perfectly into the richness of milk white. Cold air begins to nip at my ears causing me to pull the binni tightly over my head. Winds of harshness blow past me, the feeling of ice maneuvering its way into my sweater. 'These gloves really do suck...weird, I've been saying that for almost a month, yet I don't replace them.' My senses numb for a matter of minutes so that I am a walking zombie on the streets. A sharp pain shoots up my leg, making me fall to the snow in a heap of colors. 'What the hell was that?' When I look up I see that luckily I am in front of school already. 'Now just to figure out what that stupid pain was.' Inspecting my shoes becomes difficult; therefore I rip the shoe from my foot. Stabbing cold hits my foot but I pay no heed to it. Inside my protective foot cover is a rock. 'Wonder why I didn't notice that a ways back...oh well.' Slipping the darned hunk of rubber back on I continue to class.

The halls are filled with buzzing people; most of them glad for the day's events. 'Too bad I can't say the same thing.' Annoyed by such noise I place my earmuffs of, cutting of the sounds of joy. I think them all idiots, toys in life's game of fate and illusion. I know it's because I myself am unhappy, yet, even through it all I seem to hang on, just by a thread. With dread I watch as Mimi makes her way towards me. 'Not now Mimi.' I think. Her cheerful laughter does not reach my ears, nor does her call as I make a sharp turn into Science class, hiding from my own fear. It's haunting, the fact that I can no longer face my friends. My insecurities, for who I was, who I am, plague me like a never-ending illness. Outside, after I have taken off my earmuffs, I hear Mimi asking someone where I have gone. I dart behind a desk, concealing my visual from her sight.

"Sora, what are you doing?"

I cringe as the familiar voice of Matt Ishida enters my sound perception. I face him, scratching the back of my head in a feeble attempt to cache my reason for hiding. "It's nothing Matt. I just was checking something."

He shrugs his shoulders. "If you say so. By the way, when you see Tai, tell him that I want see him after school."

Just like he appeared, he is gone. 'Tai...' The name shakes my soul like death. His name, heavenly and melodious as it is, breaks my heart, wrenching the very essence that holds my life together. "Sure thing." I whisper in response even though Matt is gone. "Tai..."

"Sora, you all right?"

"Oh, I'm fine Mei-Sung." I say to the black-haired girl. "Thanks for asking."

"No, really, Just checking." She smiles and pats my shoulder. "Come on. We still have to finish that experiment."

I nod, my eyebrows arching at her kindness. Being Lana's friend, it would seem that she would treat me as Lana does, yet she doesn't. I brush back a stray strand of hair and tuck it behind my ear. I cry out quietly as my earring tugs at my shirt. 'Whoops.' I dislodge it from the coarse material and sit down next to Mei-Sung. Class drones on, its usual boredom taking me at ten minutes till. Class has ended. I stand up, straighten my skirt and get ready for Calculus class. The world around me spins as I exit the classroom, everyone becoming one big blur. I'm vaguely aware of someone's hand in front of my face. "Huh? What?"

I'd shed my skin for you

What would you want me to do?

I will always love you

But I can't live like this

"Sora, where are you going? That's the school exit." A voice says calmly.

"Tai...?" I speak unsure of my words.

"Yes." He says. "It's me. Come on, it's time for class."

"R...right." I reply. I reach for him, fearing that if I don't catch him, he'll leave. "TAI!"

He turns around, a worried look etched on his beautiful face. "Yes Sora? Something wrong?"

I tug his sleeve, pulling him back to me. "W...wait for me..." I grip his arm, frightened by the space around me. "W...wait for me T...Tai."

I feel some warmth as his arm goes around my shoulder. "It's ok Sora. You'll be fine. I'll ask Mr. Daneisko if you can sit with me today."

"O...ok Tai. Thank y...you." I stutter awkwardly.

The look Tai gives me hits my heart hard. He looks sad, worried, loving. 'How could I have done this? Where was Matt when I was like this?' I think painfully as both my legs cramp and give way underneath me. "SORA!" Tai catches me as I'm about to hit the ground. "Sora, what's happening?"

"T...Tai, I think that it's too late...for...me..." I manage as my world starts to go black. I reach out and touch his cheek, enjoying the feeling of his skin under my fingers. "Tai I...the pain...I...have to sleep...Tai."

This problem here is my fault

It's not that I don't care but I'm so lost

I'd shed my skin for you

What would you want me to do?

""Sleep?" Tai's face washes over in panic. "What do you mean sleep?!"

"Sleep Tai." I whisper softly into his ear. "Sleeeeeeep......."

His face becomes blurry until his final cry reaches me ear. "SORA!"

I will always love you

But I can't live like this

Choke off the feelings inside

Who you lying to? Will I survive?

I like what you put me through

'Cause I almost feel alive

(Sorry this one is so short people, I just had to write it this way and you'll see why. Anyway, hope you like it so far. PLEASE R&R! Oh and be easy on flames if you're going to do that, I'm kinda fragile!) ~Samenia~