Oh, my God! I updated! Heh-heh.
Disclaimer: No own. Enjoy!
Ages and names are as follows:
Joe = 17 Jyou Kido
Jun Jun Motomiya
Matt Yamato Ishida
Tai Taichi Yagami
Sora = 16 Sora Takenouchi
Izzy Koushiro Izumi
Mimi Mimi Tachikawa
TK Takeru Takaishi
Kari Hikari Yagami
Davis = 14 Daisuke Motomiya
Yolei Miyako Inoue
Ken Ken Ichijouji
Cody = 12 Iori Hida
Japanese translation:
Ototochan – Little Brother
A Different Fate
Dawn
"He's gone."
The scarlet rays of the setting sun streamed through the open window and limned the figure of the boy standing before the window as if bathing him in blood. He grinned and answered, "Hmph. That doesn't matter. This was only to provoke them anyway. I suppose they're scared enough. Give him a day or two to rest, then launch the second stage."
The girl sitting before the glowing computer at the small desk looked away. She glared briefly at blank walls and a neatly made bed. Not for the first time she wondered why she had not gotten rid of the ugly blanket spread across it. It was garishly bright with all sorts of colors seemingly splashed on at random by a toddler, and abraded her skin like sandpaper. The only other piece of furniture in the room was the desk and the hard-backed chair she was sitting on. Her laptop sat next to the computer and computer informative books lined the other side. Simple, and she liked it that way.
The blue glow from the computer screen lined her features, throwing her eyes into shadows and tinting her pale skin blue like a dead person. But her dark eyes when she looked back her brother was bright. "Ototo-chan. Are you sure. . . ?"
The boy glanced at her briefly then back out the window. A warm wind blew, causing a litter of golden leaves to fly by the window. He casually reached out and caught one.
"Ototo-chan?"
"Of course I'm sure. How is our other operation?"
"Successful."
"Good. Check communications and make sure he hasn't tried to bypass the wedge. I wouldn't want him to warn them ahead of time or the lock down will be a disaster. All your hard work would go to waste, oneesama."
"It does not have to be this way," she whispered. Yet the swift clack of her fingers against the keyboard echoed loudly in the silent room.
"No. It doesn't."
". . ."
He tightened his fist.
"Ototo-chan?"
"Hm?"
"What will happen, when this is all over?"
He released the particles and the wind hungrily swept them from his palm, scattering to the people below like a glittering shower of gold. "Then it is all over. . . ."
"I'm home!" Yamato said as he removed his shoes. When no answer came, he cocked his head and listened carefully. Going partly on intuition and partly brotherly instinct, he headed straight for Takeru's room. Turning the knob slowly, he peeked around the door and frowned, then sighed and shook his head.
The squirt was out. And he didn't look too good either. There were purple bruises over his eyes making his light skin look even paler while his golden hair was mussed and looked oily. It also hung over his brows limply as if reflecting the state of his mind.
'And he wanted to go to school?' Yamato thought incredulously.
That morning, he'd woken up early to make Takeru breakfast and lunch before leaving. He would have preferred to stay home, but Takeru had insisted the night before that he not worry the others by staying home.
So he'd just finished preparing a tray for the little squirt when said squirt trudged into the kitchen, dressed for school. The first few buttons were undone, the tie not even tied, and his blazer and trousers were wrinkled. Yamato suspected Takeru had fallen asleep again after slipping into that. He set the tray down carefully and glared at his brother, who smiled cheekily in return. But that smile quickly disappeared and he sat down in the chair with a thud. Yamato was angry enough to quash any sort of sympathy.
"And just what do you think you're doing?"
"Going to school?" Takeru managed a pathetic grin.
Yamato snorted. "You look like a whipped puppy. I don't think so."
"Matt, I can't let the others get worried."
Yamato resisted the urge to slap his own head. Was the kid serious? "TK, go back to bed," he said tiredly.
"No."
"Squirt, don't you think they'll be more worried when they see you like that?" He waved to Takeru's appearance to emphasize his point.
Takeru had the grace to flush and look down.
"Go back to bed. If they ask, I'll tell them I forced you to stay home despite your loud protestations and obnoxiously good cheer. That'll satisfy them."
"Matt!" He glared at his older brother.
Yamato grinned and reached over to muss his hair. "Please go back to bed, Takeru."
Takeru had bitten his lip, but nodded. He'd pushed back from the table slowly as if the effort would sap all his strength then returned to his room. He'd brushed off any offers of assistance, but Yamato could clearly see Takeru's legs trembling.
Now, Yamato clenched the doorknob tightly, hearing his bones pop slightly and formed a fist with the other. From the accounts the other digidestined had given him, Takeru could have been killed! He could have plummeted through the skies in the aerial chase. One wrong move, and Angemon could have been shot, dropping TK. One slipup and TK could have been fried.
And what did he do? Nothing! Yamato's fist tightened, just like his chest. Just as if his ribs were pressing tightly against his lungs, making breathing hard. Takeru could have died!
"Matt?" Takeru's sleepy voice cut through his thoughts and he looked up. Half-lidded blue eyes, the same color as his own, peered up at him. But he didn't lift his head and soon those cerulean orbs disappeared beneath gold tipped lashes.
Yamato gently closed the door and backed away. Something warm seemed to ooze from his palm and he brought his hand up to his face. Thick, scarlet liquid beaded slowly on the ridge of his palm from the gouges he'd left with his fingernails. He shook his head slowly and went to the bathroom to clean up quickly.
He was glad his father hadn't noticed their arrival last night and doubly glad when he'd left early for work and didn't notice Takeru's condition. Absently pulling vegetables from the fridge, he wondered what he should tell his dad. He'd probably forgotten the whole incident with the digimon already. His father and mother had never mentioned it again a few weeks after Takeru and the others had returned from the digiworld and whenever he or his brother would mention the digimon, their parents would quickly change the subject. It was exactly like the first time when they'd first learned of the digiworld. Yamato rinsed the vegetables, the cold water causing goosebumps to explode along his arms. What would he tell his father? He sighed, slipped the chopped vegetables into boiling water, and stared morosely at his bandaged hand. There was a slight sting there now.
The other digidestined had been worried. Throughout the day they'd all come to ask about Takeru. Jyou had been especially remorseful. Yamato had tried reassuring him, but he didn't think he'd succeeded. Koushiro had informed him that he hadn't been able to trace the hacker's signal and Gennai hadn't responded back yet. Hikari and Taichi had been uncharacteristically somber when they'd promised to stop by after dinner. Yamato shook his head. Nobody had had any ideas why it had happened and what had happened in the time Takeru had been left alone. All they could do was wait for Takeru to wake up.
"Nobody can tell where they'd disappeared to?!" Agumon asked.
"No. Apparently all anyone can tell us is that they headed off to the east and then disappeared," Tentomon replied.
"A whole swarm?!"
"Yes."
"What does Gennai have to say about this?"
". . ." Tentomon settled down on a log that jutted out of the ground at an angle. The inside was hollow. Soft, springy moss clung tenaciously along the rotting bark. His fragmented vision could pick out subtle movement beneath the flaking wood as termites and other tiny critters scuttled about. Almost, the sound of their daily, busy living reached his ears.
The imperceptible movements of Agumon's facial muscles at the extreme edge of the upper corners of his kaleidoscope eyes moved out of view as he shifted. But, like his human partner, Agumon wasn't one to hide his emotions for long.
"Tentomon?! Has something happened to Primary Village?!"
"No," Tentomon hedged, "not Primary Village . . ."
Agumon's orange skin lost brightness, he became absolutely still, and when he spoke, his voice came out thickly like he'd swallowed a pineapple whole, "N-not the . . . eggs . . . ?"
"No. The eggs are healthy and Biyomon is tending to them right now."
"Biyomon? Why doesn't Gennai look after them?"
Instead of answering, Tentomon sprang into the air once more, hovering a few feet above the log, his wings creating a soft hum and kicking up a small duststorm. He noticed a maggot peeking through the green fungi of the log. Slowly it wiggled, waving back and forth. After a while it squeezed out a bit more, and right then, the wind blew, pushing the leaves in the branches aside and allowing the scatter of polka-dot shadows to dance frenetically. Immediately, the maggot shrunk back as a stray beam hit it directly. It retreated, searching for something else besides the light.
"Tentomon?"
"Gennai is . . . indisposed." Tentomon landed on a tree branch above the log, his shadow directly above where the maggot had first appeared. "It seems, his network has been compromised. More specifically, his communications protocol and speech algorithm. They've been locked up and I guess he's tried dismantling the program or bypassing it, but has been unsuccessful. So I think he's decided to freeze parts of his data to work on reinstalling his language programs."
Agumon shook his head. He sounded exasperated as he said, "And that means?!"
"He's in a coma-like state until he's finished reprogramming his speech centers. And I don't know who hacked into his program. I suspect it was the same person who tapped into the Izzy and his friends' communication lines. He is very good. No traces left behind," Tentomon finished with a sigh. He finally looked up at Agumon's exhausted face, not surprised to see the frustrated anger flit across.
"So, no Gennai?"
"No Gennai," Tentomon said. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Gennai . . ." Below Tentomon, the maggot reappeared. It waited. Sensing only the insect digimon's shadow, it crawled out slowly.
The loud ding of the doorbell made Yamato glance up from the physics problem he'd been attempting to solve for the past fifteen minutes. Grateful for the excuse to get away from forces and falling ladders, he shoved back from his desk and stretched cramped muscles as he made his way to the door.
Taichi and Hikari stood before him when he opened the door. Neither looked like they had had an easy day. Taichi was fidgeting and looked a little flushed as well as peeved. Looking at his companion, Yamato could sympathize. Hikari had smudges under her eyes as if she hadn't slept well the night before and she seemed to be staying on her feet only by a force of will. No wonder Taichi looked like he'd swallowed a lemon.
He led them to his bedroom, peeking in on Takeru along the way. Takeru had not woken up for dinner relieving Yamato from having to convince Takeru to play along with the lie he'd told their father. Yamato had explained that Takeru had gotten a slight cold and had stayed home that day and was also sleeping it off. Mr. Ishida had accepted the lie easily enough.
Taichi poked his head past Yamato's and stared at Takeru's sleeping form. The square of light from the hallway softened his features and made his hair shine like a gold coin in the surrounding darkness. Beside Taichi, Hikari suddenly grabbed her bag as something inside it began to struggle.
"Patamon!" she whispered sharply.
"Patamon?" Yamato said
With a squeak of triumph, the orange digimon's head popped out of Hikari's backpack.
The bag rumbled again and Gatomon's voice came out clearly, "Patamon, get off my face!"
Patamon wiggled out with much grunting and cursing coming from the feline digimon left inside the bag. He finally fell free where Taichi managed to catch him before he hit the floor.
"Thanks Tai." Patamon glanced at the bed and immediately flew over. He landed with a soft thump next to his human partner. He nudged the sleeping boy gently. When he got no response he mewled softly and his ears drooped.
The others remained at the door. Taichi and Yamato flanking Hikari while she hugged her pack against her chest and Gatomon leaned over her partner's arms. What could they say?
Yamato backed away from the door and the others followed suit. In his room, he offered his chair to Hikari and settled on the bed with his back against the wall while Taichi leaned back on the door, his arms crossed and a frown on his face.
"So he hasn't woken up at all yet?" Taichi demanded.
"No."
Gatomon leapt from Hikari's arms and began pacing the floor. Yamato saw Taichi's legs twitch and guessed the brown-haired boy itched to do the same, but he settled for crossing his arms behind his head instead.
"Gatomon?" Yamato queried.
"Yes?"
"Did Gennai say anything to you at all?"
"No!" she spat, "I wish I could get my hands on him and—"
"Gatomon, calm down," Hikari said gently. "None of us has heard from him. I called Izzy right before we left and he hasn't heard anything either."
"He must know something."
Yamato looked up at his best friend. He was surprised Taichi hadn't started shouting himself blue by now. "Why do you say that?"
"Two days—"
"One and a half," Hikari corrected.
Taichi uncoiled from the door and waved his hand. "Whatever." He began to pace along with the feline digimon, his sock-covered feet tapping solidly against the wooden floor. "But this long and he still hasn't responded, yet?"
"Well, it has been only about a day," Hikari said.
"It hasn't taken him this long before, has it?" He stopped. He spun.
"He might be busy dealing with this thing and hasn't had time to talk to us yet."
"I don't think so." He continued to pace. Tap, tap, tap. Stop. Spin. Tap, tap, tap. Stop. Spin. Tap, tap, tap.
"Will you stop that?" Yamato growled.
Taichi paused to stare at his blue-eyed friend. "Huh? You want me to stop thinking?"
Yamato blinked. "What?"
"What?"
"Taichi-oniisan, I think he meant your pacing," Hikari said.
Taichi looked at his younger sister. "Oh. What about it?"
Hikari sighed, rolling her eyes.
"I think," Gatomon said, leaping onto Hikari's lap, "she means to say that Matt wants you to stop wearing a hole through the floor."
"Oh," he stared at her uncomprehendingly for a moment. "Ohh. Hey, that's not fair!" He glowered at his best friend accusingly. "You didn't say anything to Gatomon!"
"She's not an oversized dimwit like you."
"Hey! I resent that! Am I getting fat or something?"
Yamato blinked again. "What?"
"Am I getting too big for my clothes?"
"What does that have to do with anything!"
"You said I was 'oversized'!"
Yamato turned to the ruby-eyed girl, who was barely managing to stifle her giggles. "All these years and I still don't understand him."
"Me, too," she agreed.
Taichi whipped his head back and forth between his blonde-haired friend and brown-haired sister, but before he could open his mouth, Gatomon leapt off of Hikari's lap onto the bed. "Ha-ha-ha. Why don't you all keep laughing. Why don't we throw a party while we're at it!" She glared at them. "Meanwhile TK's in the next room almost comatose and an unknown threat runs loose in the digital world!"
It was like someone had drenched them with a glass of cold water. Hikari lost her smile. Taichi became absolutely still. And Yamato turned his face away from the green-eyed glare.
"She's right," Yamato said softly. "This is serious. We don't have time to be making jokes."
"We are serious," Hikari replied, "We haven't forgotten Takeru or those Kabuterimon. But that does not mean we can't laugh or smile. If we didn't we'd all wear ourselves out from being so tense all of the time." She smiled tiredly, but there was a glint in her exhausted eyes, and held out a hand to her digimon partner. "Come on, Gatomon. You've been like this since this afternoon. Can't you give me even a little smile?"
Gatomon stared at her. Then closed her eyes and shook her head. She didn't see Hikari bite her lip and lower her hand slowly. Gatomon sat down on the bed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "After you all left yesterday, Patamon fell unconscious. We tried to wake him up, but nothing worked. The others didn't know what to do. I couldn't do anything. . ."
Yamato frowned. This was news. But Patamon looked fine before.
As if reading his thoughts, Taichi said, "But Patamon looked okay to me."
"He woke up just before you and Hikari came." She paused. "I think he knew you were coming or knew he would be able to see TK at least. But one thing he knew for sure he had to come here. He had to see TK. He kept saying so."
In one fluid motion Gatomon leapt back onto Hikari's lap, startling her. "Hikari. What if they come back? What if they come after you?"
Hikari's eyes softened, but before she could reply, Yamato demanded sharply, "Why does he need to see TK? Is something wrong?"
"Wrong?" Gatomon said, "I don't think so." But she sounded doubtful.
"No, there isn't anything wrong."
"TK!" The chorus of voices greeted the younger blonde and he smiled wearily in return.
"I'm sorry I made you all worry."
Yamato stood up swiftly and guided the younger blond to his bed. "TK! You shouldn't be walking around like this so soon." Takeru flopped down and Yamato glared at him. The squirt still looked like hell, but his eyes were bright and he was smiling. Yamato had never felt so relieved.
"Are you okay?" Taichi asked.
"How are you feeling?" Gatomon echoed simultaneously.
"Takeru. . . ." Hikari breathed. She smiled and her wine red eyes softened noticeably.
Takeru flushed slightly. Clearing his throat louder than necessary, he absently rubbed Patamon's ears and said, "I'm alright. Just a little tired."
"Just a little?! Have you looked at yourself in the mirror?!" Taichi exclaimed. "I agree with Matt, you need to go back to bed."
Shaking his head, Takeru ran a hand through his limp hair and grimaced when he felt the oily locks, then smiled slightly. "We have to go back to the digital world tomorrow."
'Like hell," Yamato thought. He opened his mouth to say so.
"NO!" Surprised, everyone looked at the cat digimon sitting in Hikari's lap. "I mean," she continued, "we should wait to hear from Gennai first. Like Tai said, he must know something if he hasn't responded by now."
Yamato nodded, "Yes, lets wait." Even as he said this, he knew the Squirt would not listen. There was a determined glint in Takeru's eyes that had become increasingly consistent over the years much to Yamato's annoyance.
And Takeru was already shaking his head again, "This can't wait. Don't you understand?" He lowered his gaze. "What about all the other digimon? What if this swarm starts attacking them?"
"They won't."
"What makes you say that, Gatomon?" Takeru asked.
"You were right. They were only after you. After you left, they flew off and no one has seen them."
"No one saw where they went?" Taichi said.
"No. We tried following them," Gatomon said, "but they were too fast. The others are asking other digimon if they know anything. So far we only know that they headed to the east."
"Why are they going after Takeru?" Hikari said quietly. "Why not the rest of us, too?"
"We don't know that they won't come after the rest of you," Gatomon bristled, "If they try to lay one and I mean even one finger on you, I'll scratch it raw and go for their eyes next!"
Yamato agreed with the feline digimon silently, although his vow was for his idiot brother.
Hikari laid a calming hand on her partner's soft back. "But right now, it looks like TK is their only target. Why?"
Everyone grew silent, thoughtful. Yamato shot worried looks towards his brother, whose eyes kept drooping although he fought to keep them open.
"Is it because of his crest?" They all looked at Taichi.
"What do you mean?" Hikari said.
"He is the digidestined of Hope. If they," Taichi waved his hands vaguely, "whoever they are, wanted to defeat us, why not strike where it would hurt the most?"
"In that case, why not come after me or Matt or you?" Hikari demanded.
Taichi shrugged. "Maybe they think it'll be easier after they take out TK? I don't know." He buried his face in his hands. "Darghhh! Forget it. You're right, it makes no sense."
"It makes a lot of sense," Yamato said quietly. "Without Hope, how can anyone possibly have faith in the fight?" He folded his arms and stared at the floor intently as if trying to see past the polished wood. "Would anyone care, then? What value does Courage or Friendship have then?"
"It can't be that simple." Takeru shifted, sitting straighter. "Our crests represent our strength. It does not mean it is who we are. I am not Hope. That is only a part of what I am. Getting rid of me will not rid this world of Hope, because everyone has the capacity to hope. It is a part of everyone."
"But," Hikari said, "there is a lot we don't know about our crests. We are all connected; no one can deny that. If we lose you, Takeru . . . what happens? To us?"
"It doesn't matter why," Taichi interjected, "What we know is that a swarm of champion-level digimon seem to be after your butt." He pointed at Takeru for emphasis. "And we can't be sure they won't come after any of us either. So no heroics." Yamato rolled his eyes exaggeratedly and glared pointedly at the brunette. Taichi blanched but continued, "Don't go to the digital world without a partner at least. And by partner, I mean one of us. Hear me?"
Takeru averted his gaze, a red tinge touching his cheekbones. He mumbled something unintelligible, which quickly turned into a stifled yawn. This was echoed by Hikari, who smiled sheepishly and mumbled an apology.
"I think we should go home," Taichi sighed. "After all, there's not much we can do without a little more investigation." He ruffled Takeru's coin bright hair affectionately, much as Yamato would usually do. "Get some rest, okay?"
"Right."
"Takeru, don't push yourself," Hikari said. She opened her mouth as if say more, her burgundy eyes heavy with her unspoken words, but in the end, she lowered her gaze and whispered, "Just . . . take care." Then hurried out the door.
It was only after Yamato had bid his father a good night that he remembered why Taichi and Hikari had come over in the first place. Yamato slapped his forehead. That devious little brat! They'd been sidetracked by his ludicrous suggestion to return to the digital world!
But why?
The apartment was quiet. Cool air blew through the open window with an extra nip that hinted at the coming days of winter. Moonlight streamed across the bed and pooled like silver water into his gleaming eyes. The bed dipped as his partner shifted slightly onto his back, propped one arm beneath his head, and stared up at the moon with an equally troubled stare.
"Patamon?" his partner whispered.
"Yes?"
"You heard it all, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"I know they want to know."
Patamon remained silent. His partner was distressed. He'd guessed it even before Taichi and Hikari had come back to the digital world.
"But what am I supposed to say?" Takeru continued.
"Just tell them what happened. They will believe you."
"No," Takeru sighed, "I'm not worried about that."
Patamon studied his partner's profile. The moon's pale rays brushing across his cheekbones and nose like a dusting of fairy dust. His limp hand rested atop of the covers and the other curled gently around the gold-white strands that spread messily across the plump pillow. The blankets rose and fell in a steady rhythm with his quiet breathing, and his mouth, always curved upwards slightly as if he was laughing at some private joke, had deep lines scored into the corners, although his brow was clear.
"What was it? It didn't feel right."
"Not right?" Patamon said.
"No. It felt . . . alien."
Patamon bumped his head gently against his partner's side. "This was your first time. Don't think it would feel so natural so easily."
". . . Yeah. . . . You're right. . . ."
Patamon kept his gaze on his partners face until he closed his eyes. "Good-night, Patamon."
But not until his breathing had deepened in sleep, did Takeru's mouth soften and the lines disappear. And even then, his lips did not tip upwards as they usually did.
"Yeah and then he was, like, 'Hey, whatever!' And no way was I gonna take that from a total creep like him!"
"So what did you do?"
"Do? Why I clobbered him, of course!" Motomiya Jun swung her arms, demonstrating her swing. Her long red hair swung with her movements, nearly whipping her friend, Sayuri, in the face. Her other friend, Momoe, stepped back hastily as Jun became a little too enthusiastic in her demonstration. "But the worst part was when the police officer arrived!"
"Why?" Momoe asked, adjusting her glasses. "Weren't you happy to see him after what that guy did?"
"Of course, I was! But, ugh! The officer got there just as I was finishing off that jerk and thought I was the one abusing him! Honestly!" she finished with a huff.
"So, you mean to tell me that the police officer thought you were the offender? You, Jun?"
"Yes," Jun snapped, "And stop laughing! It wasn't funny!"
But Momoe glanced over at Sayuri and both snickered, finally bursting into giggles.
"Hey! I mean it! It's not funny!" Jun crossed her arms and glared at her friends. When they showed no signs of stopping, she stalked past them with a stormy expression. The wind blew harshly whipping her school uniform against her body, making her wish that she'd worn a jacket. A cluster of golden leaves swept across her path. One plastered itself to her, scratching her gently through her white stockings. She paused. Stared at the single leaf and slowly, of their own accord, her eyes traveled the path that the leaf had taken. Tracked along hard gray cement and unforgiving black asphalt. Stopped when a pair of black shoes and green pants moved into her view. Her heart pounded slightly faster and she swallowed, feeling like she'd just gulped an egg whole. She looked up slowly.
He was handsome. A fringe of dark hair touched his left eyebrow and eyes so dark they could only be described as intense, glinted at her. Certainly would be a real lady charmer someday and indeed Jun could see that he was already aware of this. His smile was confident, a smirk almost, and he held his case over one shoulder casually like he was modeling for a picture. But there was something cold about him. Something in his eyes that belied the casual stance.
Then she blinked. And he was already walking on, his green blazer flapping gently in the cool breeze. Jun opened her mouth, taking a step forward.
"JUN!"
BEEEEEEEP!
She gasped. Leapt back as the car careened past, whipping her hair into her face, her clothes into disarray. Her case flew from her fingers. She fell to her knees. Air wooshed in the wake of the vehicle, the fumes surrounding her, a thick cloud of hot, black gas. It rang abnormally loud in her ears. Ringing loudly, then steadying into a constant beat like her pounding heart. She tried to remember to breathe. Didn't respond to her friend's worried voices. Did not note the fine trembling of her limbs.
"Jun?!" Momoe was on the verge of tears. "Jun!"
Sayuri slapped Jun lightly. "She doesn't seem to be injured. Jun. Are you okay?"
The boy and girl disappeared around a corner. Jun blinked and looked up at her friends' worried faces. Became aware of the coldness seeping into her legs from the cement. Felt the rough ground scratch against her stockings. She shivered as another breeze blew, the long sleeves of her uniform too thin against the chill. Somewhere, beyond that same corner, a train horn blared. A group of students passed the trio, pausing in their bright chatter to look at them curiously for a moment.
"Jun?" Sayuri asked.
"Yeah." Jun sucked in a shuddering breath and summoned a smile. "I'm alright."
"Hurt?"
Jun got up slowly, raising herself carefully. She rolled her shoulders a bit and tested her knees and ankles. "Nope. All okay, see?" She jumped up and down to prove her statement.
Momoe swallowed. Looked down and paused for a moment. Then her head shot back up and she glared. "God, Jun, what the hell?! It was, like, I don't know, you were just staring off into space or something! And then you just leapt off the curb like that! What the were you thinking?!"
"Heh-heh. I guess I wasn't." Jun stuck out her tongue. "And I did not leap off the curb. Oh, and thanks for asking after my welfare and all. I'm alright, if you were wondering."
"Really?" Sayuri asked before Momoe could snap back a response. "Physically or mentally?"
Both Jun and Momoe stopped to gape at the short girl.
She blinked back, briefly hiding brown eyes. "What?"
"Y-you . . . you . . ." Momoe stuttered.
"You just made a joke!" Jun exclaimed.
"I did?"
Jun sighed. "Never mind. But I'm sorry about that, Momoe."
"You should be!" Momoe turned away with a sniff.
"Momoe!" Jun leapt onto the bespectacled girl's back. "Momooeeee. I said I was sooorry."
Momoe staggered under the other girl's weight and grunted. "Okay," she gasped, "okay, I forgive you. Now get off my back!"
"Right!" Jun jumped off. Spotting coin-bright hair, she began jumping, squealing, "Oh! It's Matt! It's Matt!" She rushed past her friends, who sighed in unison. "Matt! Matt! Oh, Matt! I can't believe we take the same route to scho—aahh!" She grunted as the Yamato's weight collapsed beneath her exuberant hug and they both thudded to the ground. Her face was pushed against Yamato's hard chest and their limbs entangled. But he seemed a bit more muscular than usual. Yamato had always been slim, but today he seemed just a tad . . . wider in the chest? And his cologne was different today. No wait, he wasn't wearing any cologne. What?
Jun leaned back slightly. What? Green? But their school uniform was a dark blue. Green was . . . the . . . middle school . . . . Jun leapt back. "OhmyGodI'msosorryAreyoualright?" She reached down hastily and helped him stand up. "I'm really, really sorry. I thought you were someone . . . Takeru?"
"Geez, sis. I guess it's not enough that you're running around scaring Matt, you have to pick on TJ, too?"
Jun turned to the voice. Then glared. "Who asked you?"
"No one." Daisuke smirked. "I just wanted to annoy you. Anyway, isn't Matt enough? Or are you just expanding your areas of attack?"
"Shoo, fly," Jun sniffed, "Buzz off." She turned to Takeru, making sure Daisuke was cut off completely from the conversation. "Wow, Takeru, you've really grown. I thought you were Matt!"
Takeru groaned slightly. "Please don't say that. Matt? Ugh!"
Jun giggled. "Well, if he doesn't do anything soon, I might lose interest in him and go for you!" At Takeru's panicked look, she burst into full laughter. "I'm just kidding! Ha-ha! Just joking! I'm sorry, Takeru, but you are waaay too young. Ha-ha-ha!" After a while Takeru joined in as well.
"You go to school with Matt, right?" he asked.
"Mm-hm." Jun picked up her case and began walking back to her friends.
Behind them, Daisuke shouted, "Hey! Wait!"
"I haven't seen you for a while now," Takeru said.
"Well, of course! I've been so busy with cram school and preparing for college."
"College? Where are you planning to go?"
"Mm. I don't know. I've applied to several of them, but I guess whichever one I get, I'll take. Heh."
"Yeah," Daisuke interjected, "but we know what you really want is Tokyo U."
"So what? Doesn't everybody?"
"Ha! But we also know Tokyo University doesn't accept idiots!"
"And what about you, brother dear?" Jun smiled cattily. "What high school are you planning to apply for, hm? Let's see: Bozo's school for clowns? Dumbo's Dunces? Or maybe—"
"No way! There are really schools like that around?!"
Takeru blinked. "Daisuke, she was being sarcastic."
"Huh?" Daisuke flushed slightly. "Oh. I-I-I knew that! I was just joking, too! Ha-ha-ha!"
"Right. Suuure you were." Jun said. There was a soft thud to her side. She whipped around and gasped, "Takeru!"
"Takeru!" Daisuke was at the blonde's side in a second. "Hey, man! Are you okay?! I told you it was too early, you dummy!"
"What's wrong?" Sayuri said as she and Momoe approached them.
"I don't know," Jun said. "Takeru? Are you alright? What's wrong? Are you sick?"
"No." Takeru tried to smile up at them. "No. Just felt a little dizzy there and tripped, that's all."
"Hey, I'm taking you back home," Daisuke said. "And stop complaining. If Matt doesn't tie you down to the bed, I will."
"What am I? A cripple? I feel fine. Honestly!" Takeru sighed. "It was just the sun, that's all." Takeru stood up slowly.
"Are you sure?" Jun frowned. "Takeru, don't push yourself. I'm sure Matt wouldn't want anything to happen to you." Jun placed one hand on his forehead and the other on her own. "Well, you don't feel hot." She lifted his bangs, peering at his face carefully. "You're kind of pale and your eyes are a bit red. Maybe you should go home and rest another day."
Takeru flushed and Jun had to restrain herself from hugging him tightly and squealing. Really. The boy was just too cute for his own good.
"R-really," Takeru stammered, "I'm fine. If I get too tired, I'll go to the nurse, okay?"
Jun considered for a moment. Then said, "Okay. You do that." She placed one hand on her hip and waved a finger at him. "And no excuses! You got that?!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
She made a face. "Ma'am? Hello! I'm not that old yet!"
"Really?" Daisuke said, "You sure look it!"
"Daisuke!"
He ran off, his laughter trailing back to her.
"Ugh!" she muttered, "What an annoying brother."
Takeru smiled, "Well, I'll see you around, Jun. Good luck."
Jun smiled, then waved. "Take care, Takeru. Make sure Daisuke doesn't rub off too much onto you, okay?"
"Will do!"
She watched the receding backs of her brother and Takeru. Then shivered as the wind blew again, cutting through her thin sleeves like the cloth was non-existent. A swirl of golden leaves fluttered by and continued on to surround the two boys. She could catch the faint scent of rotting leaves and . . . something else. Something familiar, but not real. Something musty . . .
"Ah?!" She gasped.
Momoe jumped back, startled. "Jun? You had that same look on your face again!"
"What?"
"The same look right before you jumped in front of the car!"
"Sorry," she mumbled. Then smiled brightly, knocking one fist against her head. "Ha! Guess I was thinking too much. Eh-heh." She sprinted down the sidewalk, "Come on, we're going to be late!"
But the wind still blew at her back. It was damp and chilly. And sounded like it was wailing.
Author's Notes:
Er . . . Hello? Hello? Is this thing on? Hellloooo? Sigh. Well I don't blame you. The first update after a year-long hiatus? Ha!
Well I hope you've enjoyed the story and you'll also take the time to give me a little review. Thanks! Bye!