-_-_-_-
He ran.
'Faster than a speeding bullet.' he thought wildly, running as he had never run before.
He turned abruptly, running into a street and narrowly avoiding being hit by a car, all the while tears stung his eyes and his breath came in sobs.
'Run run run....' He collided with a fat, wealthy old gentlmen who immediately began beriding him for his carelessness. He ignored him.
Clawing his way off the ground, Takeru noticed the slight pause in his flight made the tears come faster.
'Can't think about it. Won't think about it. Its not true! It can't be true.'
The crowded streets parted like the Red Sea for the unstable young man who came racing through, fighting his way through the masses. People stared openly as he sprinted by, speculating about the tears he was shedding and the rough cries that fell from his lips.
Takeru neither heard their guesses nor would he have cared if he had.
-_-_-_-
It had taken three fairly large teachers to seperate the brawling girls, and even then they had escaped their brawny arms twice in their anger.
Maro had calmed down much quicker than Hikari and saw that if she didn't act soon would lose Takeru; she freed herself of her captor and made a quick exit in one swift motion.
Hikari squirmed in fury and screamed out, "I hate you, I HATE YOU!!!"
She finally relaxed when her Daisuke came around and held her, she clung to him for dear life wondering what to do before giving in to tears.
Daisuke's eyes were contemplative as he took in all that had just happened, and he stroked her chocolate brown hair.
-_-_-_-
Maro hailed a taxi and told the driver to take her to the beach. She sat back and watched the streets flash by.
They were crowded. Too many people.
'Sheep.' she thought bitterly.
She took out her compact and examined the damage that Yagami girl had inflicted on her face.
One long claw mark traced its way down her left cheek, a slightly yellow discoloration darkened her cheek, and a lucky punch had bruised her lip, a small trickle of blood flowing from where a ring had cut her.
Overall, she looked fine. Her hair was mussed from the fight, and her swollen lip amplified her pouty expression. Her scratch would heal, and she'd be able to think up an excuse for the bruised cheek that would serve her purpose when she found him.
-_-_-_-
'Run run run.' Sweat beaded on his forehead and rolled down his golden locks as he kept up his tireless pace. By rights he should be tired. By rights he should have fallen down in exhaustion three miles ago.
But the pain kept him going. It had crawled into his stomach and curdled his blood. His lungs were crying out in agony but his heart hurt him most.
There was no reward for this meaningless existence. No light at the end of the tunnel.
He had realized there was no hope left.
And it tore him up.
'Run run run, as fast as you can.'
His destination in sight, Takeru ran faster.
'You'll never catch me.'
He had made it. The frozen beach spanned across the horizon in front of him. Frozen spume and icy seaweed tossed in its frothy depths.
'Never catch me.'
He couldn't outrun the truth.
Flocks of seagulls took flight as the calm sounds of the lapping waves were broken by Takeru's frantic scream,
"YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME!!!!"
-_-_-_-
Maro paid the driver his fare and exited the cab.
She bit her lip to make it bleed again and work up some tears at the same time.
Her quarry was in sight and she stalked towards him.
-_-_-_-
The old woman leaned heavily on her cane as she watched her pomeranian leap playfully at the seagulls.
She hear a cry further down the shore and squinted to see.
A boy lay collapsed on the sand, his long body contorted into a shape conveying inner turmoil.
Suddenly a girl walked up to him, and knelt beside him.
The woman's face wrinkled into a smile and she lowered herself down onto the sand, grinning at the lovers spat.
The pomeranian barked and drew her attention away from the pair and onto the gulls winging away towards the sea.
-_-_-_-
Maro knelt in the cold grimy sand next to where Takeru lay fallen.
She maneuvered the shaking boy into her lap, he offered no resistance.
Stroking his head, she waited for him to speak. She didn't have to wait very long.
"Y-you were right, Maro. I couldn't believe it when you told me, you were right. The whole time. About everything."
Maro smirked as she gazed out over the cold ocean,
"Its all right Takeru. You couldn't have known. Shhh. Its okay."
She held him tighter to convey her 'sympathy', Takeru had no reason not to trust her and drank in all the comfort he could.
He looked up at her, tears clouding his eyes,
"I still can't believe it. I, I've been through so much with them. I can't believe that they would and Yamato, he's my brother! How could he-"
Maro smoothly interrupted, "People like them don't care about the feelings of others. I know how much this hurts you, Takeru. Listen to me. If they can do this to you, then you can do it to them. Its fair. They used you, lied to you, and led you to believe they cared for you when they don't."
Takeru's blue eyes hardened, "What do you care? So you're right, I've been used and lied to my 'friends' and my own brother, why are you still hanging around? You saw the spectacle, got the t shirt, and can tell your grandkids you saw the foolish, naive worthless boy realize that everything he knew was a lie. Why are you still here? Just leave me alone."
His hurt had been replaced by anger and he stood up, pushing her off onto the beach and stalking off.
Maro grinned before she faltered out, "I, I could never do any of those things to you Takeru..."
He stopped in his tracks, frozen at the thought that perhaps someone still cared for him. He wanted it to be true so very badly that his defenses rose.
"What? You going to lie to me too?" He turned to face her, his eyes glinting with pain and anger and pathetic hope, "Look Maro, I've just had a shit load of lies revealed to me. I've lost my friends, I've lost my brother, and now you're trying to toy with me. I don't appreciate your joke."
He turned around to leave, when she ran up to him and grabbed his wrist.
"Its no joke, Takeru. I, well I love you."
Takeru's eyes widened in amazement and her lips caught his in a kiss before he could say anthing.
Further down the beach, the old woman smiled as the two shadows were united against the sunset as the lovers ended their little fight with a kiss.
She was walking towards the bus stop and never saw the taller shadow collapse against the smaller one out of emotional and physical exhaustion.
-_-_-_-
"Moshi moshi, its me."
"Uhh...Yamato? You need to come back to Odaiba, as soon as you can pack your bag."
Yamato's heartbeat quickened, "Why? What's happened?"
The voice on the other line faltered, "Someone's been messing with Takeru. And apparently your, um I don't know how to say this."
His impatience overcame him and Yamato snapped, "What happened, Daisuke??"
This time the voice came out clearly, as though reciting a line from a play, "Your dad's been abusing Takeru. This girl convinced him that we all knew about it and didn't care enough about him to do anything. In fact, he thinks we all hate him. He ran off after school got out, and we've been looking for him since. We haven't found him yet."
Yamato wasted no time, "I'll be there in four hours. Keep looking."
He hung up the phone; his face was set but his heart was sick.
-_-_-_-
Maro was only able to carry Takeru out of determination alone, he was stumbling slowly along, and his arm was around her shoulder.
She somehow got him into the taxi, and climbed in primly, taking time to straighten her skirt after she sat down.
The driver's curiosity was aroused when this seemingly unconcious boy was dragged into his cab by the petite girl.
"What's the matter with him? He sick? I can't have sick people in my cab."
Maro's cold brown eyes glanced at him momentarily, "No, his brother just died. He's just upset. Please take us to his address."
"You got it."
The yellow cab pulled away from the beach as the blood hued sun began to set and a blanket of violet and blue took its place.
-_-_-_-
Yamato was on the bus, staring out the window.
Fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes till he got to Odaiba.
Thank god that Daisuke had called him right after it had happened. He had been able to catch the 2:08 bus, although he hadn't packed anything.
He had left a note to his roommates saying that an emergency had come up at home and to tell his teachers.
If he had missed this bus, the next one would've been at 4:18. He would've had a nervous breakdown if he had to wait that long.
So he was just sitting here on the bus, like he had been for the past three hours.
Yamato leaned his head against the cool pane and said a silent prayer to whoever was listening that Takeru would be okay.
He couldn't believe it. How could his dad have beaten Takeru?
There had been signs, that he was sure of. But there hadn't been any reason to believe that his dad would've done that.
But it was all there.
Takeru's strange greeting to their dad, when Yamato had visited.
Takeru had asked Yamato to go to Taichi's house before coming home; when he had gotten there it had been obvious that Takeru had done a hurried clean up job.
Also he had gone into his dad's room to borrow a pair of socks and it had smelled like some of his friend's room after parties. Old vomit.
He had brushed it aside.
And now. Now he didn't know what to do.
Fifteen minutes till he was thrust into this horrible reality.
"Kuso."*
Fourteen minutes.
-_-_-_-
The cab pulled up to the apartment building.
Takeru had woken up ten minutes earlier and had been silent, looking at his hands for the duration of the ride.
His view was obstructed when a pale delicate hand covered his, and he looked up at Maro,
"Takeru, we're here."
He turned and his stomach sank at the familiar building where he lived.
Maro noticed the fear and pain in his eyes, and got out with him, telling the driver to wait.
"Takeru?"
He was still gazing at the building so she took his head in her hands and turned it to meet her eyes.
"Takeru, come away with me."
This seemed to get his attention.
"What?"
"Come away with me. Come to the Digital World. Please?"
"H-how do you know about the Digital World?"
Maro slipped a hand into her pocket and pulled out a pearl colored digivice.
"I, I can't. I live here. This is where I belong."
Maro's eyebrow arched, "Is it? Do you belong here? Your friends never liked you, your family deserted you. No one cares for you here, except me. I know what you're going through. It happened to me. My family abandoned me here in Odaiba when I was 9. We lived in Akita. My father told me the only was to get rid of a rat was to capture it, drive it faraway and let it go. Only he let me go in Odaiba."
Takeru started to say something but Maro stopped him.
"Takeru, I love you. We are alike. And we weren't made for this world. So why not go to a different one? Why not go away? What's holding us here?"
Takeru said, "I don't know. I don't know anything anymore. I'm sorry Maro, I don't know if I love you. I just..." He looked up searching the sky for an answer, before concluding lamely, "I just don't know anymore."
Maro smiled kindly, "Don't worry about it." Handing him a piece of paper, she kissed him once more, "This is my address. If you choose to come with me, take the bus here."
She got into the cab and Takeru turned to go to his apartment.
-_-_-_-
The hours passed until it was close to eleven. None of the Digidestined had thought of going back to Ishida's apartment, and Yamato had begun scouring the city the moment he had gotten off the bus.
They hadn't heard or found anything, and they were all ready to go home.
Yamato was against the idea, "Look, my little brother is out there. Alone. We can't just go home and give up without a fight."
Hikari rubbed her temples, "Yamato, we understand what you're going through. We all want to keep looking but we're tired. We need to go to sleep, and start fresh tomorrow."
Her response only added to his worry and anger, "You don't understand how I feel, Hikari. That's my brother! And you're all saying that you'd rather get some sleep than make sure he's okay? Imagine what would've happened if he had done that when the Dark Ocean was calling you. "
"That's not fair Yamato. I'm not giving up on him. And you don't think that I'm worried. He's my best friend. And now I find out that your dad's been beating him, and he thinks we hate him. And you don't think I'm worried?"
Iori had been watching all quietly, before he said, "Yamato I think we all need a little sleep and that we should go home now. But that doesn't mean we're giving up on him. It means we'll be closer to finding him once we can all think straight. And who knows, maybe he called your apartment. You won't find out until you go home."
Eventually Yama agreed to the younger boy's logic.
Hikari's cell phone rang, and she answered while Yamato and Iori looked up in anticipation.
"Moshi mosh- oh hi. Okay, are you sure you checked all of them? How about the courts....You have? All right. Love you. Bye"
She snapped the cell phone shut.
"That was Daisuke. He, Miyako and Ken went to all the bus stops and asked all the drivers. They also checked all the basketball courts. There's no sign of him. They're heading home. "
Yamato heaved a sigh of frustration.
Iori said, "Hey, we'll walk you back."
The walk was short as Yamato jogged most of the way with Hikari and Iori behind him just barely keeping up. They were making a list of places to check for the next day.
Shortly they reached the apartment building and Yamato produced a key to his door.
Inside Masaharu Ishida was sipping a beer and watching television.
Blinded by his anger, Yamato strode up to the easy chair his father was lounging in and spun it around.
Shock was replaced by happiness when Masaharu saw who it was.
"Yamato! What're you doing here?"
He ignored the question, snatching the bottle out of his father's hand and throwing it to the ground where it shattered.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! He's your son for christ's sake!"
Masaharu's jovial expression changed to fear and panic. The liquor fed his emotions.
"You have no idea Yamato. Work's been rough, and he's so hard to manage. He-"
"Shut up! You just shut up!" Yamato had hauled his father off the chair by his collar. "Did you hurt him?"
Masaharu shook in fear, but he nodded.
Yamato's eyes were wide as he threw his father down into the chair.
Hikari and Iori were statues in the doorway as they watched Yamato pull his hand back to hit his father, who sat motionless.
"Oh come on Yamato, don't hit him just for little old me."
Four heads looked up to see Takeru in the hallway leaning against the wall and looking at his shoes.
Hikari was about to run to him but he lifted his hand up which stopped her.
"Don't even." He turned to face them. "Don't you even. You're not going to make this all right Hikari. And I'm not going to listen to anymore of your lies."
Masaharu looked up and saw the pain on his son's face, pain he had caused and started crying. Realization had come and he was drowning in his guilt.
Takeru picked up a bag that was next to him on the floor, and adjusted it on his shoulder.
Seeing he was preparing to leave, Yamato said, "Takeru, I'm so sorry. I had no idea! If I-"
He had inadvertantly kindled the fire, and stopped lamely as he saw his younger brother's eyes darken with emotion.
"Don't give me that shit. You knew all along. ALL of you knew. And you didn't care. You expected me to stay here and live this lie? You thought I wouldn't care? You're wrong. Do you want to see what you ignored? What you thought was so annoying Hikari? Fine."
He dropped his bag and pulled off his shirt.
Bruises were the most noticeable, recent black ones and some faded green gray ones, several scars dotted his back and abdomen, and small circular burn marks as though a cigarette had been put out on him.
Masaharu erupted into heartbreaking sobs as he saw his mark etched up and down his son's thin frame.
Takeru threw his shirt at them and picked up his bag again.
"You still don't care? You still think I'm annoying Hikari? Screw you. What's wrong with you? How could you? And Yamato, I'm your brother! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
Yamato found his voice, "T.K. I swear I didn't know. I didn't know. I would've done something, I'm so sorry. You have to believe me."
Takeru had started towards the door, "Why the hell should I? You all knew. Don't lie now."
Iori broke his silence, "How can you trust Maro over us? She's bad news. She forged the note and lied to you. This is all a big set up. Listen to me, I would never lie to you."
Takeru was passing between Hikari and Iori, "And you too? I never would've guessed. I always thought of you like the little brother I never had. Shows what a sap I am. Maro loves me, Iori. She's the only one left I can trust."
He walked out.
Hikari had stood frozen, brown eyes searching for the old Takeru who loved basketball and lo mein and playing checkers. Not this unhappy bitter version.
She hardly acknowledged that he had left when she realized something. She had to be the Light for his Hope to return.
She ran out into the hallway of apartment doors.
"TAKERU! WAIT!"
Sprinting like she had never before, "Takeru! I swear we're not lying. I would never lie to you. I care for you too much! I thought we were best friends!"
She had caught up with him just as he was going into the elevator.
He turned around and she saw he was crying, "Funny, I thought so too."
The doors shut and Hikari stared bewildered before punching them with all her might.
-_-_-_-
Maro was cutting herself an apple in her tiny kitchen, when she heard a knock on her apartment door.
For a moment she was confused, wondering who it was. She remembered while making her way over to the door.
She unlatched it.
"Takeru! You came!"
-_-_-_-
.....interesting....
sorry for the wait. i was in brazil for 2 weeks, then i was sick.
now i finally can update.
long chapter, huh?
ciao
-arynnl
He ran.
'Faster than a speeding bullet.' he thought wildly, running as he had never run before.
He turned abruptly, running into a street and narrowly avoiding being hit by a car, all the while tears stung his eyes and his breath came in sobs.
'Run run run....' He collided with a fat, wealthy old gentlmen who immediately began beriding him for his carelessness. He ignored him.
Clawing his way off the ground, Takeru noticed the slight pause in his flight made the tears come faster.
'Can't think about it. Won't think about it. Its not true! It can't be true.'
The crowded streets parted like the Red Sea for the unstable young man who came racing through, fighting his way through the masses. People stared openly as he sprinted by, speculating about the tears he was shedding and the rough cries that fell from his lips.
Takeru neither heard their guesses nor would he have cared if he had.
-_-_-_-
It had taken three fairly large teachers to seperate the brawling girls, and even then they had escaped their brawny arms twice in their anger.
Maro had calmed down much quicker than Hikari and saw that if she didn't act soon would lose Takeru; she freed herself of her captor and made a quick exit in one swift motion.
Hikari squirmed in fury and screamed out, "I hate you, I HATE YOU!!!"
She finally relaxed when her Daisuke came around and held her, she clung to him for dear life wondering what to do before giving in to tears.
Daisuke's eyes were contemplative as he took in all that had just happened, and he stroked her chocolate brown hair.
-_-_-_-
Maro hailed a taxi and told the driver to take her to the beach. She sat back and watched the streets flash by.
They were crowded. Too many people.
'Sheep.' she thought bitterly.
She took out her compact and examined the damage that Yagami girl had inflicted on her face.
One long claw mark traced its way down her left cheek, a slightly yellow discoloration darkened her cheek, and a lucky punch had bruised her lip, a small trickle of blood flowing from where a ring had cut her.
Overall, she looked fine. Her hair was mussed from the fight, and her swollen lip amplified her pouty expression. Her scratch would heal, and she'd be able to think up an excuse for the bruised cheek that would serve her purpose when she found him.
-_-_-_-
'Run run run.' Sweat beaded on his forehead and rolled down his golden locks as he kept up his tireless pace. By rights he should be tired. By rights he should have fallen down in exhaustion three miles ago.
But the pain kept him going. It had crawled into his stomach and curdled his blood. His lungs were crying out in agony but his heart hurt him most.
There was no reward for this meaningless existence. No light at the end of the tunnel.
He had realized there was no hope left.
And it tore him up.
'Run run run, as fast as you can.'
His destination in sight, Takeru ran faster.
'You'll never catch me.'
He had made it. The frozen beach spanned across the horizon in front of him. Frozen spume and icy seaweed tossed in its frothy depths.
'Never catch me.'
He couldn't outrun the truth.
Flocks of seagulls took flight as the calm sounds of the lapping waves were broken by Takeru's frantic scream,
"YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME!!!!"
-_-_-_-
Maro paid the driver his fare and exited the cab.
She bit her lip to make it bleed again and work up some tears at the same time.
Her quarry was in sight and she stalked towards him.
-_-_-_-
The old woman leaned heavily on her cane as she watched her pomeranian leap playfully at the seagulls.
She hear a cry further down the shore and squinted to see.
A boy lay collapsed on the sand, his long body contorted into a shape conveying inner turmoil.
Suddenly a girl walked up to him, and knelt beside him.
The woman's face wrinkled into a smile and she lowered herself down onto the sand, grinning at the lovers spat.
The pomeranian barked and drew her attention away from the pair and onto the gulls winging away towards the sea.
-_-_-_-
Maro knelt in the cold grimy sand next to where Takeru lay fallen.
She maneuvered the shaking boy into her lap, he offered no resistance.
Stroking his head, she waited for him to speak. She didn't have to wait very long.
"Y-you were right, Maro. I couldn't believe it when you told me, you were right. The whole time. About everything."
Maro smirked as she gazed out over the cold ocean,
"Its all right Takeru. You couldn't have known. Shhh. Its okay."
She held him tighter to convey her 'sympathy', Takeru had no reason not to trust her and drank in all the comfort he could.
He looked up at her, tears clouding his eyes,
"I still can't believe it. I, I've been through so much with them. I can't believe that they would and Yamato, he's my brother! How could he-"
Maro smoothly interrupted, "People like them don't care about the feelings of others. I know how much this hurts you, Takeru. Listen to me. If they can do this to you, then you can do it to them. Its fair. They used you, lied to you, and led you to believe they cared for you when they don't."
Takeru's blue eyes hardened, "What do you care? So you're right, I've been used and lied to my 'friends' and my own brother, why are you still hanging around? You saw the spectacle, got the t shirt, and can tell your grandkids you saw the foolish, naive worthless boy realize that everything he knew was a lie. Why are you still here? Just leave me alone."
His hurt had been replaced by anger and he stood up, pushing her off onto the beach and stalking off.
Maro grinned before she faltered out, "I, I could never do any of those things to you Takeru..."
He stopped in his tracks, frozen at the thought that perhaps someone still cared for him. He wanted it to be true so very badly that his defenses rose.
"What? You going to lie to me too?" He turned to face her, his eyes glinting with pain and anger and pathetic hope, "Look Maro, I've just had a shit load of lies revealed to me. I've lost my friends, I've lost my brother, and now you're trying to toy with me. I don't appreciate your joke."
He turned around to leave, when she ran up to him and grabbed his wrist.
"Its no joke, Takeru. I, well I love you."
Takeru's eyes widened in amazement and her lips caught his in a kiss before he could say anthing.
Further down the beach, the old woman smiled as the two shadows were united against the sunset as the lovers ended their little fight with a kiss.
She was walking towards the bus stop and never saw the taller shadow collapse against the smaller one out of emotional and physical exhaustion.
-_-_-_-
"Moshi moshi, its me."
"Uhh...Yamato? You need to come back to Odaiba, as soon as you can pack your bag."
Yamato's heartbeat quickened, "Why? What's happened?"
The voice on the other line faltered, "Someone's been messing with Takeru. And apparently your, um I don't know how to say this."
His impatience overcame him and Yamato snapped, "What happened, Daisuke??"
This time the voice came out clearly, as though reciting a line from a play, "Your dad's been abusing Takeru. This girl convinced him that we all knew about it and didn't care enough about him to do anything. In fact, he thinks we all hate him. He ran off after school got out, and we've been looking for him since. We haven't found him yet."
Yamato wasted no time, "I'll be there in four hours. Keep looking."
He hung up the phone; his face was set but his heart was sick.
-_-_-_-
Maro was only able to carry Takeru out of determination alone, he was stumbling slowly along, and his arm was around her shoulder.
She somehow got him into the taxi, and climbed in primly, taking time to straighten her skirt after she sat down.
The driver's curiosity was aroused when this seemingly unconcious boy was dragged into his cab by the petite girl.
"What's the matter with him? He sick? I can't have sick people in my cab."
Maro's cold brown eyes glanced at him momentarily, "No, his brother just died. He's just upset. Please take us to his address."
"You got it."
The yellow cab pulled away from the beach as the blood hued sun began to set and a blanket of violet and blue took its place.
-_-_-_-
Yamato was on the bus, staring out the window.
Fifteen minutes.
Fifteen minutes till he got to Odaiba.
Thank god that Daisuke had called him right after it had happened. He had been able to catch the 2:08 bus, although he hadn't packed anything.
He had left a note to his roommates saying that an emergency had come up at home and to tell his teachers.
If he had missed this bus, the next one would've been at 4:18. He would've had a nervous breakdown if he had to wait that long.
So he was just sitting here on the bus, like he had been for the past three hours.
Yamato leaned his head against the cool pane and said a silent prayer to whoever was listening that Takeru would be okay.
He couldn't believe it. How could his dad have beaten Takeru?
There had been signs, that he was sure of. But there hadn't been any reason to believe that his dad would've done that.
But it was all there.
Takeru's strange greeting to their dad, when Yamato had visited.
Takeru had asked Yamato to go to Taichi's house before coming home; when he had gotten there it had been obvious that Takeru had done a hurried clean up job.
Also he had gone into his dad's room to borrow a pair of socks and it had smelled like some of his friend's room after parties. Old vomit.
He had brushed it aside.
And now. Now he didn't know what to do.
Fifteen minutes till he was thrust into this horrible reality.
"Kuso."*
Fourteen minutes.
-_-_-_-
The cab pulled up to the apartment building.
Takeru had woken up ten minutes earlier and had been silent, looking at his hands for the duration of the ride.
His view was obstructed when a pale delicate hand covered his, and he looked up at Maro,
"Takeru, we're here."
He turned and his stomach sank at the familiar building where he lived.
Maro noticed the fear and pain in his eyes, and got out with him, telling the driver to wait.
"Takeru?"
He was still gazing at the building so she took his head in her hands and turned it to meet her eyes.
"Takeru, come away with me."
This seemed to get his attention.
"What?"
"Come away with me. Come to the Digital World. Please?"
"H-how do you know about the Digital World?"
Maro slipped a hand into her pocket and pulled out a pearl colored digivice.
"I, I can't. I live here. This is where I belong."
Maro's eyebrow arched, "Is it? Do you belong here? Your friends never liked you, your family deserted you. No one cares for you here, except me. I know what you're going through. It happened to me. My family abandoned me here in Odaiba when I was 9. We lived in Akita. My father told me the only was to get rid of a rat was to capture it, drive it faraway and let it go. Only he let me go in Odaiba."
Takeru started to say something but Maro stopped him.
"Takeru, I love you. We are alike. And we weren't made for this world. So why not go to a different one? Why not go away? What's holding us here?"
Takeru said, "I don't know. I don't know anything anymore. I'm sorry Maro, I don't know if I love you. I just..." He looked up searching the sky for an answer, before concluding lamely, "I just don't know anymore."
Maro smiled kindly, "Don't worry about it." Handing him a piece of paper, she kissed him once more, "This is my address. If you choose to come with me, take the bus here."
She got into the cab and Takeru turned to go to his apartment.
-_-_-_-
The hours passed until it was close to eleven. None of the Digidestined had thought of going back to Ishida's apartment, and Yamato had begun scouring the city the moment he had gotten off the bus.
They hadn't heard or found anything, and they were all ready to go home.
Yamato was against the idea, "Look, my little brother is out there. Alone. We can't just go home and give up without a fight."
Hikari rubbed her temples, "Yamato, we understand what you're going through. We all want to keep looking but we're tired. We need to go to sleep, and start fresh tomorrow."
Her response only added to his worry and anger, "You don't understand how I feel, Hikari. That's my brother! And you're all saying that you'd rather get some sleep than make sure he's okay? Imagine what would've happened if he had done that when the Dark Ocean was calling you. "
"That's not fair Yamato. I'm not giving up on him. And you don't think that I'm worried. He's my best friend. And now I find out that your dad's been beating him, and he thinks we hate him. And you don't think I'm worried?"
Iori had been watching all quietly, before he said, "Yamato I think we all need a little sleep and that we should go home now. But that doesn't mean we're giving up on him. It means we'll be closer to finding him once we can all think straight. And who knows, maybe he called your apartment. You won't find out until you go home."
Eventually Yama agreed to the younger boy's logic.
Hikari's cell phone rang, and she answered while Yamato and Iori looked up in anticipation.
"Moshi mosh- oh hi. Okay, are you sure you checked all of them? How about the courts....You have? All right. Love you. Bye"
She snapped the cell phone shut.
"That was Daisuke. He, Miyako and Ken went to all the bus stops and asked all the drivers. They also checked all the basketball courts. There's no sign of him. They're heading home. "
Yamato heaved a sigh of frustration.
Iori said, "Hey, we'll walk you back."
The walk was short as Yamato jogged most of the way with Hikari and Iori behind him just barely keeping up. They were making a list of places to check for the next day.
Shortly they reached the apartment building and Yamato produced a key to his door.
Inside Masaharu Ishida was sipping a beer and watching television.
Blinded by his anger, Yamato strode up to the easy chair his father was lounging in and spun it around.
Shock was replaced by happiness when Masaharu saw who it was.
"Yamato! What're you doing here?"
He ignored the question, snatching the bottle out of his father's hand and throwing it to the ground where it shattered.
"What the hell is wrong with you?! He's your son for christ's sake!"
Masaharu's jovial expression changed to fear and panic. The liquor fed his emotions.
"You have no idea Yamato. Work's been rough, and he's so hard to manage. He-"
"Shut up! You just shut up!" Yamato had hauled his father off the chair by his collar. "Did you hurt him?"
Masaharu shook in fear, but he nodded.
Yamato's eyes were wide as he threw his father down into the chair.
Hikari and Iori were statues in the doorway as they watched Yamato pull his hand back to hit his father, who sat motionless.
"Oh come on Yamato, don't hit him just for little old me."
Four heads looked up to see Takeru in the hallway leaning against the wall and looking at his shoes.
Hikari was about to run to him but he lifted his hand up which stopped her.
"Don't even." He turned to face them. "Don't you even. You're not going to make this all right Hikari. And I'm not going to listen to anymore of your lies."
Masaharu looked up and saw the pain on his son's face, pain he had caused and started crying. Realization had come and he was drowning in his guilt.
Takeru picked up a bag that was next to him on the floor, and adjusted it on his shoulder.
Seeing he was preparing to leave, Yamato said, "Takeru, I'm so sorry. I had no idea! If I-"
He had inadvertantly kindled the fire, and stopped lamely as he saw his younger brother's eyes darken with emotion.
"Don't give me that shit. You knew all along. ALL of you knew. And you didn't care. You expected me to stay here and live this lie? You thought I wouldn't care? You're wrong. Do you want to see what you ignored? What you thought was so annoying Hikari? Fine."
He dropped his bag and pulled off his shirt.
Bruises were the most noticeable, recent black ones and some faded green gray ones, several scars dotted his back and abdomen, and small circular burn marks as though a cigarette had been put out on him.
Masaharu erupted into heartbreaking sobs as he saw his mark etched up and down his son's thin frame.
Takeru threw his shirt at them and picked up his bag again.
"You still don't care? You still think I'm annoying Hikari? Screw you. What's wrong with you? How could you? And Yamato, I'm your brother! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"
Yamato found his voice, "T.K. I swear I didn't know. I didn't know. I would've done something, I'm so sorry. You have to believe me."
Takeru had started towards the door, "Why the hell should I? You all knew. Don't lie now."
Iori broke his silence, "How can you trust Maro over us? She's bad news. She forged the note and lied to you. This is all a big set up. Listen to me, I would never lie to you."
Takeru was passing between Hikari and Iori, "And you too? I never would've guessed. I always thought of you like the little brother I never had. Shows what a sap I am. Maro loves me, Iori. She's the only one left I can trust."
He walked out.
Hikari had stood frozen, brown eyes searching for the old Takeru who loved basketball and lo mein and playing checkers. Not this unhappy bitter version.
She hardly acknowledged that he had left when she realized something. She had to be the Light for his Hope to return.
She ran out into the hallway of apartment doors.
"TAKERU! WAIT!"
Sprinting like she had never before, "Takeru! I swear we're not lying. I would never lie to you. I care for you too much! I thought we were best friends!"
She had caught up with him just as he was going into the elevator.
He turned around and she saw he was crying, "Funny, I thought so too."
The doors shut and Hikari stared bewildered before punching them with all her might.
-_-_-_-
Maro was cutting herself an apple in her tiny kitchen, when she heard a knock on her apartment door.
For a moment she was confused, wondering who it was. She remembered while making her way over to the door.
She unlatched it.
"Takeru! You came!"
-_-_-_-
.....interesting....
sorry for the wait. i was in brazil for 2 weeks, then i was sick.
now i finally can update.
long chapter, huh?
ciao
-arynnl