She had always thought that the sound of the ocean had something calming
but now after a few hours of sitting on the beach of the Dark Ocean she
wasn't so sure anymore. She had to admit she had always been somewhat
scared by this strange and foreign place but at the same time the soft
sound of the dark waves always helped her mind to find some rest.
But this day it was different. She didn't find the so desired peace she was looking for. Instead the constant murmuring of wind and sea seemed to encourage her mind to keep working and so one question kept running through her head: Why did her brother have to die?
She didn't even know what had caused his sudden death. She was sure she would have notice something if he had been ill but he never gave her a reason to be suspicious. To her he had seemed to be just as carefree and full of life as always. Even his grades were slightly improving during his last months. If anyone had asked her she would have told them that he had never been better. Or did she miss something?
Again and again she had asked herself during these last days if there had been something going on without her noticing it. By now she was pretty sure that something must have been wrong or why else would her parents refuse to tell her the cause of death? People don't just die like that or at least Taichi wouldn't. Old people died like that but her brother was only nineteen. How could something like that happen to normal teenager who hadn't even been sick?
But what if he had been sick? She knew how well he would hide things he deemed to dangerous for his little baby sister. He would give her no reason to worry about him. When it came to their younger siblings he and Yamato would do almost everything to make sure of their well-being.
Hikari drew her knees closer to her chest as she sat in the cool sand and her eyes kept staring out at the dark sea. She couldn't tell if there was a sun or anything comparable hidden behind the thick wall of fog and clouds but she noticed that the light was slowly fading and the day seemed to come to an end. She thought briefly about looking for a place where she would be save for the night but quickly dismissed the thought again. She didn't want to get up and wander around aimlessly in hope of finding a small cave or something like that and ending up lost in those dark woods.
The cool sea breeze was softly brushing over her skin when she brought her attention back to her previous thoughts. She wondered if Takeru knew how luck he was to have a brother like Yamato. Just like Taichi he would never let his younger sibling down. Unlike her. She felt like she had failed her brother when he would have needed her the most. But then again how was she supposed to help him when he kept all problems as far away from her as possible? Instead of telling her he would say that it was nothing and bottle it all up inside of him or at least ask Yamato for advice.
Sometimes she envied the blond teenager for the trust Taichi put into him while at the same time she was kept out of every potential trouble as good as possible. But did he trust him enough to tell him about his late problems, which Hikari was sure now had been existing? Why hadn't she asked her brothers friend before? But there was no use in mourning missed chances now. She was lost in the Dark Ocean without knowing how to get back.
Being too desperate and too tired to do anything else the young girl curled up in a ball and began to cry softly.
***
He had been following the seemingly endless beach for hours without meeting another living being and he didn't really mind at all. The loneliness in this world was the reason for his being here after all. He had wished for some time alone and he got what he wished for. He was finally all alone and now he should be able to think some things over without further distraction.
But what exactly was keeping his mind busy? He wanted to believe that it was all about his family, his friends and school but inwardly he knew it better. He had lied to himself and he had tried to run from reality. He didn't feel sorry for going to the Dark Ocean but he also knew that it wouldn't help at all if he didn't face his worries.
To deceive others was easy but he couldn't ignore to truth forever. The guilt was slowly overshadowing his whole life. He had to accept the fact that he had let his best friend down.
Angrily he kicked some shells and small stones into the sea. He still didn't want to even think about what had happened and what he had done, or to be more exact what he hadn't. Wouldn't it have been his duty as his best friend to give him every kind of help he needed, even against Taichi's will?
While he thought some more about it he noticed the change of light in the sky above. He stopped and watched the clouds and even the sea getting darker. The wind was stronger now and blew tiny sand corns into his face. He brought one arm up in front of his face and tried to shield his eyes form the stinging sand. He knew he had to find a place for the night soon but before he could even think any further a small black spot on the beach a few hundred meters from where he had stopped caught his eye.
Despite it's dark colour and the lack of light it was standing out against the otherwise empty beach. At first he hesitated but then he decided to get closer to get a better look at it.
***
She had only cried for a few minutes when she heard soft footsteps in the sand behind her. Somebody had come close up and had now stopped only a few steps away form her. She didn't even want to imagine who or what had sneaked up behind her up but it really wouldn't make the situation any different if she just stayed like she was now, curled up in a ball and looking away from whatever was standing behind her.
She slowly moved and tried to get up when suddenly a familiar voice from behind spoke up: "Hikari?" Immediately she stopped getting up as if frozen in time. Did her mind already play tricks on her? Slowly and carefully she turned her head to get a first look at the person behind her. Tears where still clouding her eyes but she could make out a slim blonde figure dressed in black gazing down onto her.
"Yamato? Is that you?", she asked in a whisper as she tried to brush the tears from her eyes.
***
Only about half an hour later both of them were sitting side by side in the entrance of a small cave. Yamato hadn't wasted much time explaining his presence but instead taken Hikari's hand and dragged her behind him. It didn't take him very long to find what he had been looking for. He had spotted a hill rising from the edge of the wood, which on one side ended rather suddenly in a steep cliff. They even found a small cave, which was just big enough to protect them against the wind and rain. On their way to the cave Yamato had picked up some wood and after a few tries he had managed to start a small fire to keep them warm.
Neither of them had said a word since they had met on the beach and the young blond seemed to be absolutely comfortable with this silence. Hikari however had so many questions she wanted to ask him but she didn't know how and if she should try to break through the walls of silence Yamato was building around himself. But she had to hear his answers so she decided for the direct approach. "Yamato, may I ask you some questions?"
But this day it was different. She didn't find the so desired peace she was looking for. Instead the constant murmuring of wind and sea seemed to encourage her mind to keep working and so one question kept running through her head: Why did her brother have to die?
She didn't even know what had caused his sudden death. She was sure she would have notice something if he had been ill but he never gave her a reason to be suspicious. To her he had seemed to be just as carefree and full of life as always. Even his grades were slightly improving during his last months. If anyone had asked her she would have told them that he had never been better. Or did she miss something?
Again and again she had asked herself during these last days if there had been something going on without her noticing it. By now she was pretty sure that something must have been wrong or why else would her parents refuse to tell her the cause of death? People don't just die like that or at least Taichi wouldn't. Old people died like that but her brother was only nineteen. How could something like that happen to normal teenager who hadn't even been sick?
But what if he had been sick? She knew how well he would hide things he deemed to dangerous for his little baby sister. He would give her no reason to worry about him. When it came to their younger siblings he and Yamato would do almost everything to make sure of their well-being.
Hikari drew her knees closer to her chest as she sat in the cool sand and her eyes kept staring out at the dark sea. She couldn't tell if there was a sun or anything comparable hidden behind the thick wall of fog and clouds but she noticed that the light was slowly fading and the day seemed to come to an end. She thought briefly about looking for a place where she would be save for the night but quickly dismissed the thought again. She didn't want to get up and wander around aimlessly in hope of finding a small cave or something like that and ending up lost in those dark woods.
The cool sea breeze was softly brushing over her skin when she brought her attention back to her previous thoughts. She wondered if Takeru knew how luck he was to have a brother like Yamato. Just like Taichi he would never let his younger sibling down. Unlike her. She felt like she had failed her brother when he would have needed her the most. But then again how was she supposed to help him when he kept all problems as far away from her as possible? Instead of telling her he would say that it was nothing and bottle it all up inside of him or at least ask Yamato for advice.
Sometimes she envied the blond teenager for the trust Taichi put into him while at the same time she was kept out of every potential trouble as good as possible. But did he trust him enough to tell him about his late problems, which Hikari was sure now had been existing? Why hadn't she asked her brothers friend before? But there was no use in mourning missed chances now. She was lost in the Dark Ocean without knowing how to get back.
Being too desperate and too tired to do anything else the young girl curled up in a ball and began to cry softly.
***
He had been following the seemingly endless beach for hours without meeting another living being and he didn't really mind at all. The loneliness in this world was the reason for his being here after all. He had wished for some time alone and he got what he wished for. He was finally all alone and now he should be able to think some things over without further distraction.
But what exactly was keeping his mind busy? He wanted to believe that it was all about his family, his friends and school but inwardly he knew it better. He had lied to himself and he had tried to run from reality. He didn't feel sorry for going to the Dark Ocean but he also knew that it wouldn't help at all if he didn't face his worries.
To deceive others was easy but he couldn't ignore to truth forever. The guilt was slowly overshadowing his whole life. He had to accept the fact that he had let his best friend down.
Angrily he kicked some shells and small stones into the sea. He still didn't want to even think about what had happened and what he had done, or to be more exact what he hadn't. Wouldn't it have been his duty as his best friend to give him every kind of help he needed, even against Taichi's will?
While he thought some more about it he noticed the change of light in the sky above. He stopped and watched the clouds and even the sea getting darker. The wind was stronger now and blew tiny sand corns into his face. He brought one arm up in front of his face and tried to shield his eyes form the stinging sand. He knew he had to find a place for the night soon but before he could even think any further a small black spot on the beach a few hundred meters from where he had stopped caught his eye.
Despite it's dark colour and the lack of light it was standing out against the otherwise empty beach. At first he hesitated but then he decided to get closer to get a better look at it.
***
She had only cried for a few minutes when she heard soft footsteps in the sand behind her. Somebody had come close up and had now stopped only a few steps away form her. She didn't even want to imagine who or what had sneaked up behind her up but it really wouldn't make the situation any different if she just stayed like she was now, curled up in a ball and looking away from whatever was standing behind her.
She slowly moved and tried to get up when suddenly a familiar voice from behind spoke up: "Hikari?" Immediately she stopped getting up as if frozen in time. Did her mind already play tricks on her? Slowly and carefully she turned her head to get a first look at the person behind her. Tears where still clouding her eyes but she could make out a slim blonde figure dressed in black gazing down onto her.
"Yamato? Is that you?", she asked in a whisper as she tried to brush the tears from her eyes.
***
Only about half an hour later both of them were sitting side by side in the entrance of a small cave. Yamato hadn't wasted much time explaining his presence but instead taken Hikari's hand and dragged her behind him. It didn't take him very long to find what he had been looking for. He had spotted a hill rising from the edge of the wood, which on one side ended rather suddenly in a steep cliff. They even found a small cave, which was just big enough to protect them against the wind and rain. On their way to the cave Yamato had picked up some wood and after a few tries he had managed to start a small fire to keep them warm.
Neither of them had said a word since they had met on the beach and the young blond seemed to be absolutely comfortable with this silence. Hikari however had so many questions she wanted to ask him but she didn't know how and if she should try to break through the walls of silence Yamato was building around himself. But she had to hear his answers so she decided for the direct approach. "Yamato, may I ask you some questions?"