Hm hm hm…This is quite popular. I like it, I like it! (Gimme some suggestions though…I need it!!!) I do have a new enemy planned just up ahead…Read on!
Yes, yes, I know that beach thing was kinda taken from Yu-Gi-Oh! But I did change it a little bit, the timing and stuff. Not to mention, they'd never let bullies pick on little Serenity!
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, but this fic is mine…
Lost
Chapter 6: Lost Son
The sun shone through the crystal-clear blue sky, the ocean shown a sparkling blue and the warm, sticky sand of the beach looks soft and inviting. On a steamy asphalt road running along the cliffs, a bus pulled away from its stop and zipped away, leaving the two young boys standing on the curve.
T.K. glanced around the beach and cliffs curiously. "Where are we?" he asked, glancing over at Matt. "We're we going?"
Matt smiled, still trying to recompose himself. "To the beach." he said simply, leading his brother over to the steps down the cliff.
He pulled half of the shell out of his right pocket and handed it to his brother. T.K. took it, looking curiously, as Matt pulled his own half out of the other pocket. "You…You may not remember this…" he mutter, blushing slightly. "But…we've been here once before…and I promised to bring you back someday…"
"Really?" T.K. asked, looking at the shell in his hand. He thought for a moment, then connected the two shells. "That's neat."
Matt smiled a bit wider. He didn't really remember, that was obvious, but he did have a slight sense…Besides, this would give them a chance to get to know each other all over again.
They reached the bottom of the stairs and set foot in the sand. T.K. took a few steps in, then crouched down to take a closer look at the sand, running his hands through it.
"It's warm…" he muttered quietly, picking up a handful and letting it run back to the ground. "Feels good."
Matt nodded. It was still so amazing to him…his brother, his little brother, alive and well. His emotions were all jumbled up inside about this…he didn't know wither to be happy or sad or excited or anything…
He shook of his worries and looked out over the ocean. "Water looks pretty today, doesn't it?"
T.K. didn't look up. "I'm not crazy about the ocean…" he muttered again. "It's too cold…"
Matt looked at him a moment, then sat down beside him on the beach. "Bro…Tell me something…" T.K. looked up. "What was it like? Living in China, I mean…"
T.K. sighed gently, and looking out onto the ocean. "We…we lived near the coast…" he muttered. "But I didn't go down to the beach much…To tell the truth…" he looked down with a sigh. "I'm terrified of the ocean."
Matt stared. Okay, this was different. The T.K. he knew always used to love the sea, the view from Odiva was his favorite place.
Of course, it was understandable. He'd almost drowned, after all, he only survived because some old man had hauled him out in a fishing boat. And he didn't even remember it…or him…he didn't remember who he was anymore.
Matt sighed once again, trying to make sense of it all. Then he stood, brushing the sand off his pants. "Okay then…" he sighed. "If this makes you uncomfortable, we can always do something else."
"Like what?" the younger asked, following after.
"Good question." Matt muttered in his mind.
"Well…" he said out loud, contemplating a moment. "How 'bout a movie or something? You know, just to…get used to each other again."
T.K. looked confused a moment "Okay then…" he said slowly, smiling. "A movie sounds good to me."
Matt smiled, just a bit, and they headed back up the steps for the bus stop.
~ * ~ * ~
Although not a speak of T.K.'s memories came back, the two had quite a nice time that day. After a movie back in Odiva, Matt commenced to showing his brother around town. There were a lot of his old places to see…old hangouts, the school, and they even took a quick ride over to Heighten View Terrise to see if anything popped up there. Nothing did, but it was still nice.
After a few games one-on-one basketball at the school's outdoor court, in which Matt got soundly beat (he never was to good at the sport) T.K. glanced up at the inky black sky above their court. "It's getting late." he mentioned, pointing out the stars. "'Suppose we should call it a day?"
"Okay then." Matt sighed, glad for an excuse to stop playing. He picked up his bag and turned the direction towards his mother's apartment. "Come on, let's get home."
T.K. nodded, but started in the other direction. Matt, realizing this, chased after him and grabbed his brother by the shoulder. "And where do you think you're going?"
"Home?" T.K. shrugged. "I live over…"
"Not tonight you don't." Matt wheeled his brother around in the other direction. "You might as well get back used to it…It's your house, after all."
T.K. put up some protests, but of course they didn't work and Matt herded him down to their mother's apartment.
"Here we are!" he exclaimed, opening the door. "Home sweet home!"
He pushed his brother back inside. T.K. slid a bit on the rug, then looked around in curiosity. "This is…'Home'?"
"Yup…" Matt glanced around. It was a little messy…his mother had been so busy three days straight that the place had kinda gone the way of a college dorm. There was a pile of dishes in the sink, and a hamper full of clothes on the kitchen table. And it was so dusty that Joe would go into an asthma attack. In fact, it looked…well, it looked rather like their father's apartment on a bad day.
"Well…Mom's been busy." he shrugged for an explanation, then entered the kitchen. "You want somethin' to eat?"
"Nah…" T.K. glanced at the clock. It was 9:47. "I think…If it's okay with you… I'd rather just hit the sack…"
"Okay then." Matt shut the cabinet and smiled. "Come on…It'll show you…your room…"
He lead the way down the hall, and T.K. followed. Matt opened the door and was pleased at the wondering look that flooded his brother's face when he saw his room.
His mother had always been loose with him, so she let him decorate his room however he wanted. There were basketball posters hanging over the desk on one wall, and a large bookshelf on the other. A dresser was next to the desk, and the bed was across from them, with the same green cover he'd always liked.
"Here you are." Matt said, pointing to the bed. "Get yourself a good night's sleep, okay? You look pretty beat."
"But…" T.K. looked around. "Isn't this…your room?"
Matt shrugged. "Not really." he sighed. "It's…yours. I just stay here." he grinned at him, waving it away. "Don't worry, I'll sleep on the couch, okay?"
T.K. looked at him a moment, then gave a wary smile. "Okay, you win…" he sighed, sitting on the bed. "Goodnight…bro."
Matt's smile widened a bit and he nodded. "That's right…" he muttered, shutting the door. "Goodnight, bro."
~ * ~ * ~
Nancy quietly entered the apartment. It was almost midnight, and she didn't want to wake Matt. She'd see him in the morning anyway.
To her surprise, the university student wasn't in his room like he should be. He was lying on the couch, spread out under a spare comforter, fast asleep. But…why should he be sleeping there of all places? Was there something wrong…?
"Matt." she whispered, shaking him. "Matt, wake up."
The young man stirred, looking up sleepily. "Hey mom." he yawned. "What's up?"
"That's what I would like to know." his mother sounded worried. "Why are you sleeping in here? Why aren't you in your room?"
"Oh…" Matt seamed to think about that a moment, then grinned sheepishly. "Okay mom…There's something you should see."
He lead his mother down the hall until they reached the door of that room. Before he opened it he pressed a finger to his lips. "Be careful not to wake him." he whispered.
"Wake…who?" Nancy asked, but Matt shushed her before opening the door.
She peaked in. Another blonde-haired boy was curled inside the sheets in her son's place. Matt beckoned her in and for a moment they stood at the bedside, looking down at the figure.
Nancy wavered. That boy…She'd seen him before. But there was no way…no way…
"Yeah." Matt nodded, reading his mother's expression. "It is."
Nancy shook her head in disbelief, then looked down at the boy in wonder. "You mean…?" she whispered quietly, her hand shaking. "I don't care how or why. My baby…my little boy…Is alive!"
Matt had a quick fight with himself on whether to hold her back so she didn't wake him or let her hug her youngest son for the first time in three years. He didn't have long to think about it, though, because T.K. began squirming and groaning in his sleep.
"What's wrong?" Nancy whispered in a hushed gasp. "What's the matter?"
"It's just a nightmare." Matt hissed back. "Kari told me he'd been having problems…but I don't know what we can…"
Nancy suddenly reached forward and dropped to her knees as she did. Before Matt could stop her she was cradling T.K.'s head in her arms, running her fingers lovingly through his hair. "Mom…" Matt gasped, surprised. "What're you…?"
His mother wasn't listening. She was humming a slow, peaceful tune, the lullaby she had used to soothe the boys to sleep when they were babies. Almost instantly, T.K.'s body relaxed. His features eased up and took on a more childish glow.
"That's my baby." Nancy whispered lovingly. "That's my little boy."
T.K. was snuggling up to her hands and purring like a kitten. His eyes opened half-way and looked at her, but not enough to really see. His lips smiled slightly and opened to mutter a single word, like a baby learning to speak: "Ma…ma…"
His eyes closed again, fast asleep. Nancy gaped a moment, then kissed her son on the forehead, still whispering. "My boy…my baby…"
Matt stared at his mother and brother a moment, shocked. He…He remembered her… he thought wildly. He may be asleep…but he remembered her!
