Annihilation

Part Four

            "Sora. Sora."

            Her coach was shaking her gently.

            "This is your big match! Get out there and make me proud!"

            Sora gazed at the tennis court with a distant look about her eyes. She clutched her racket tightly, turning her knuckles white. The coach, unaware of the fear present in Sora's eyes, patted her on the back.

            "Don't worry, Sora. You're one of my star players; you'll do fine."

            Sora snapped out of the trance and nodded towards her coach politely.

"Thank you." Her voice sounded shaky when she spoke, surprising them both.

"Look, Sora, if you don't feel well we can post pone the match."

            "Uh…no, no. I feel fine. I was just…thinking."

            "All right then, get out there and kick some Tiger butt."

            Sora felt herself smile; not at all what she wanted to do.  Her legs and feet led her automatically towards her side of the court. Gwen, her doubles partner, smiled and waved with her racket. Sora returned her greeting with a weak smile, causing Gwen to get a worried look. She mouthed the words 'what's wrong?'. Sora gave her a 'nothings-wrong' smile. But, of course, it was lie.

            Tai shifted uncomfortably on the metal bench to make room for Davis.

            "Look, I'm not totally helpless, Davis. You don't have to follow me everywhere."

            Davis crossed his arms over his chest. "Now what would happen if that Dark Master Dude came back and tried to kill you? Who would protect you, huh? Obviously not yourself, Mummified Tai."

            "You mean Piedmon?"

            "Yeah, yeah. That guy."

            Tai rolled his eyes. "Davis, Piedmon is not coming back, okay? Also, what did I tell you about calling me 'Mummified Tai'?"

            "That you would break both of my arms, wrap me around a streetlight-" He paused, putting a finger to his chin.

            "In the East side."

            "Oh yeah! In the East side, tie me up in the bandages that you have on, attach a slab of meat to me and blow a dog whistle." He grinned, bringing the finger up to his eye, he pulled down his bottom eyelid and stuck his tongue out. "But to bad you need those bandages to keep you together, Mummified-"

            "Do you think I was kidding?"

            "Shutting up."

            "Good. Now will you stay quiet the rest of Sora's match? This match decides who wins the tournament, remember?"

            Davis performed the 'zipped' motion around his lips, putting on his most innocent face.

            Tai sighed but then grimaced. The cut on his side throbbed with the effort. Davis stood up quickly and stared at Tai.

            "Yo buddy, are you okay?"

            "I'm fine, but – hey, I thought you were going to stay quiet the rest of the match."

            "Heh heh. Oh, that's right. Um," Davis got down on his knees, "please don't hurt me!"

            "Shut up and watch the game- er, match."

            Sora wiped the sweat off of her forehead and took a brief glance at Tai in the stands. Maybe I can talk to him after my match. This whole affair is really freaking me-

            "Sora!!"

            "Huh?! Wha-"

            The tennis ball flew towards her at an alarmingly fast speed. It slammed onto the court and grazed the top of her head when it bounced upwards. The server raised her arms into the air to boast about her serve.

            "Oh yeah! An ace! She never even saw it coming!"

            Gwen stormed up to the net and yelled over the top of it about the ball being out. A heated argument started, both girls trying to get the ref on their side. It was all a blur to Sora; a far off sound that didn't seem to even exist. A chill swept over her; running down her spine and through her entire body. Nothing seemed to be there, nothing at all. The yelling opponents, the applauding crowds, they just disappeared. Lost in a world of darkness that Sora herself was sucked into.

            Tai leaned forward. "Davis, what's wrong with Sora?"

            "Mmfshnk…I dunno. Want a nacho?"

            "Where did you- oh, forget it. I think that we should check on Sora. She looks…odd."

            Davis continued stuffing his face with nachos. "So."

            Tai struggled to his feet and started walking towards the fence. "Now where's the door?" he continued muttering to himself (the occasional 'stupid Davis' slipping in) while he searched for a gate.

            "Hey! Wait for me!" Wolfing the rest of his nachos down, Davis sprinted after Tai. He caught up with him just as he was opening a gate.

            "You weren't just going to leave me, right?"

            Tai didn't answer him.

            "Right? Hey, come on. Don't give me that silent treatment thing. I care about your girlfriend too, it's just…the nachos were begging to be devoured."

            "Uh-huh, sure Davis." Tai walked quickly up to Sora and placed an arm around her shoulders. "Hey, you okay? Sora?"

            She stared blankly at the net, not blinking once. The world around her had gone black, no noise, no people, and no light. Tai shook her slightly.

            "Hey, come on. They're starting the point over. Sora?" Tai looked towards Gwen, who was watching them intently. "Gwen, do you have some water?"

            She nodded dumbly and ran over to her bag. Yanking out a water bottle, she jogged over to them. She handed her bottle to Tai, who unscrewed the top and splashed some of the water onto Sora's face. She blinked and shook her head.

            "Huh? Tai?!" A tear rolled down her face. "Is Piedmon…even if you did get rid off him, Tai, is there a chance that…"

            Tai looked deeply into her eyes. "That what? The dreams would still become a reality?"

            Gwen gave them both funny looks. "Okay, obviously you guys are talking about something I missed so…I'll just go back over here." She pointed towards her original spot and walked towards it.

            Sora nodded at Tai, another tear finding it's way down her profile. He let his arm slide down her back as he held her close.

            "Don't worry, Sora. I doubt that the dreams could come true now. Piedmon's dead. Without him, there's no way."

            She looked up at his face and smiled through her tears. She ran a finger over the bandage under his eye. "It would be a shame if it could happen; the dreams coming true. You would have gotten hurt for nothing."

            He put on a brave face and talked in a voice deeper than his own. "Don't worry! I can take the heat! And I'd do it again if I could."      

            She giggled. "Oh, right. I should have known. Now go back to your bench and don't worry about me."

            He kissed her softly. "Win the match, okay? I think your coach is counting on you."

            Sora looked back at her coach who was giving her a severe look. "Yeah, you better go."

            Here it is again, my dream. But something is different. It's darker. I can see him more clearly now. The screaming…that's clearer too. Why is Matt there? He's just standing, watching me. Watching me die. Watching all of us die. Matt! Why won't you help us?! Help! Please! Don't let him come any closer! MAAAAAATTTTTTTT!!

            Sora shot straight up in bed, sweat trickling down the back of her neck.

            "Matt…" she wiped away a tear and looked around her room. Sunlight poured through the blinds and filled the small bedroom, illuminating every corner. Sora sighed heavily and flipped her covers over. She crawled out of bed and walked towards her mirror. If Tai was right, then she shouldn't be having this dream anymore. A shiver ran down her back, making the fine hairs on her neck stand up. Why won't Matt help us? She started brushing her hair half-heartedly, but abandoned the task after a few strokes. Her mother knocked on the door.

            "Sora, Tai's on the phone for you," she opened the door and frowned at Sora, "you're not even dressed yet. It's almost noon, Sora."

            "Sorry, mother. I guess I was just tired from the match yesterday. May I have the phone?"

            "Here." Her mother tossed it towards her and left, closing the door behind herself.

            She brought the phone up to her ear and frowned slightly. There was talking on the other end. I hate it when he talks to Kari…

            "Sora? You there?"

            "Yes, I'm here. Was that Kari you were talking to?"

            "Yeah. She's been wanting more and more of my time lately. I guess the whole Davis or T.K. thing is getting to her."

            "Mm."

            "But that's not what I called you about. I was wondering if – I mean, everyone was really wondering – if you would like to go to the digiworld today."

            Sora sighed. "Is it safe?"

            "Yeah; Izzy went yesterday to see for himself. Look, you don't have to come if you don't want to."

            "K then."

            "Does that mean no or yes."

            "No."

            There was a pause on Tai's side. "Okay…well, see…you around, I guess."

            "Bye." She clicked off without waiting to hear his goodbye. The moment she put the phone down she regretted it. She usually never got a call from Tai; sometimes he would just show up at her door to make a date. A sigh swelled up in her chest, but she swallowed it down. Today she would spend alone.

            Kari watched Tai slowly put the phone back on the receiver. He turned around to look at her, confusion on his face.

            "What'd she say?"

            "No."

            "Hm, that's odd." Kari got up from her position on the couch and walked over to the fridge.

            "Soda?"

            "How 'bout a tequila? I can't believe she said no," he stared at the floor hard, "usually it's Matt who says no…"

            "Uh…you better be joking about the tequila thing, because we don't have the stuff to make it."

            She stared after her brother as he walked into their room. "Okay then…no soda for him."

            Tai flopped onto his bottom bunk, thoughts racing through his mind. Something was definitely wrong with Sora. The match yesterday…she had seemed so distant and…afraid. Tai shook his head. Piedmon was dead, that was for sure. Maybe something else was out there, after Sora. After all the digidestined. And as leader it was his responsibility to find out what. So he would go to the digital world today. To look. But for what? He had no idea what to look for. Maybe Sora could give him a hint. She knew what was happening to herself, but obviously didn't want to share. Tai grew so deep in thought that when Matt burst through the door he didn't even notice.

            "Hey! Tai! You ready to go? Koushiro has everything ready, and Yolei brought all the snacks! Hey…Tai?"

            Izzy walked through the open bedroom door, scowling at Matt. "Call me Izzy."

            "I'll call you whatever I like, Koushiro. Isn't that right, Tai, m' buddy."

            "I thought you hated Tai, Yamato."

            "No. I hate Mimi, Koushiro."

            Tai got up slowly and walked towards the window. He opened it and stuck his head out.

            "Have you ever noticed how the wind blows stronger up here? Like it wants to pull you through the window, just so you can be with it?"

            Izzy and Matt exchanged glances.

            "Or how everyday people awe over the sun's set or rise, not because they understand it, but because they want the people around them to think they're sophisticated, or smart? Truthfully, I hate the sunset. But there are times when I can't help but stare at it until it disappears."

            "This is what you think about?"

            "No, Koushiro, this is what I want you to think about. I'm not going today. I have to be somewhere else; somewhere where I'm needed a lot more."

            Matt's face turned red. "With Sora? I bet that's why you're not going. You have to be with your precious girlfriend, don't you?"

            "No. She wants to be alone today. Everyone needs their space once in awhile."

            "All right then. We'll be back around three. Isn't that right, Yamato?"

            "Yeah, whatever."

            Tai heard the door click shut behind them. He leaned farther out of the window, looking down. Feelings swelled up inside of him, begging to be released. He shook his head softly.

            "I don't cry."

            Sora yanked a tank top on quickly. She slipped into a pair of jean shorts and rushed out into the living room still buttoning them. Her mother looked up from a steaming pot at the stove.

            "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

            "The park."

            "Oh? Are you meeting someone there?"

            "Maybe."

            "Maybe? Well, can't you wait until after lunch? It's almost done."

            "I can buy something at a store."

            "Well don't be too late. I'm expecting com-"

            Sora ran out the door before she could finish. She didn't stop running until she reached the bottom of the apartment complex's stairs. Jogging steadily, she headed any way she could; weaving through traffic, and cutting through ally ways. She stopped abruptly.

            "What am I doing?" her voice echoed in the long, empty ally way. There were two enormously tall buildings on either side of her, reaching up into the sky, each trying to out reach the other. She looked up at the visible sliver of sky overhead. The empty boxes and papers here reeked of hopelessness, and the air had a stench of forgetfulness. Her gaze dropped back down as she watched a rat scurry by. It had someplace it was going, unlike her. She dropped to her knees and began to cry. "What do you want with me?"

            A small breeze picked up, carrying some of the papers along with it. They swirled and danced in the wind, teasing Sora as they moved in circles around her.

            "Go away…please. Stop following me. I'm not strong enough for this. I'm not strong enough for anything. Leave me alone…please." Her voice died down to a whisper as the scenery around her started to shift. 

            When I feel like I know everything, like I've figured everything out…something happens so that I know that I nor anyone else could never actually know everything. It's just that…sometimes I feel like I understand, or even worse, I act like I understand, when in actuality, I don't. I don't know that right off. I think I'm helping when I'm actually hurting. Being leader of the digidestined isn't easy, that's why

            "Tai!! Come out here and help with the groceries! Bring your sister too!"

            Tai threw down his pen and buried the half finished letter under his pillow. He swallowed hard, the lump in his throat moving down to his stomach.

            "Tai?! Would you get out here!"

            "Uh…COMING!" he wiped his eyes, checking for moisture. Luckily, he hadn't let his emotions get the best of him.

            "Where's Kari, dear?" his mother didn't bother to turn and look at him as he walked out of his bedroom.

            "Oh, she went to Yolei's house. She'll be back around three."

            "And what about you?" she opened up the fridge and started putting things away. "What did you do all day?"

            "I…just watched T.V. and stuff."

            "Does 'and stuff' mean you cleaned your room?"

            "No."

            "Tai, I keep on asking you to do that. When will you get to it? Never mind. Just never mind. I work around forty hours a week and you don't do one thing to help out. Not one thing."      

            "I have to go to school, mom. Doesn't that count for something?"

            "Well, schools almost out. During the summer this house better be nothing but shiny. And if it's not, then I'm not letting you out of the house anymore. You hear? So that means no more seeing Sora or any of your other friends."

            "Okay, okay, I get it."

            She stopped unloading a brown paper bag and looked at him. She seemed very worn out and tired as she sighed heavily. Tai passed a worried glance at her.

            "You getting enough sleep, mom?"

            "I'll be fine. It's just this whole taking care of you kids while your fathers gone. It's a lot of work. That's why I'd like you to help out more Tai."

            "I will." He would have rather said that he had a life too, but decided against it. She was right, of course, he didn't help around the house that much, but he had a lot of things to do and people to see. Great, he thought, another thing added to my list of worries: my mom.

            "Did you eat lunch?"

            "Hm? Uh, yeah." Tai looked towards his bed. He could just picture the letter crammed underneath his pillow, and the last sentence he had started writing. He started walking towards it.

            "Well, would you mind helping me cook dinner for tonight. I have a recipe that takes awhile, so it needs to be started right now."

            Tai forced a smile as he turned around. "Sure."


            Matt put the soda can down and took a bite of a doughnut.

            "Mmm…you know exactly what kind of food I like, Yolei."

            "I only raided about half of my parents store. There better be something here that you like."

            Izzy picked half-heartedly at a sushi. "Matt, are you worried about Tai?"

            "Why should I be? Tai can take care of himself."

            "You sure about that?" Everyone stopped to stare at Izzy. "What about his sanity?"

            "Look, I know that Tai was acting a little strange today, but that doesn't mean that he could go crazy. I mean, what would he go crazy about?"

            Kari started choking on her drink suddenly. Davis leapt to his feet.

            "Don't worry Kari! I'll save you!"

            She stopped as suddenly as she had started, spitting out some of the fluid.

            "Oh, heh heh, sorry about that. I tried to swallow too much of it."

            Izzy passed her a funny look. "Okay then…I'm not sure, Matt, but it seems like something has been bothering him."

            Matt nodded. "And Sora, too."

            "I thought that Sora didn't exist according to you."

            "Well, she doesn't. It's just that…" Matt blushed faintly but turned his head away. "Look, shouldn't we be getting back?"

            Jou stole a glance at his watch. "AH! It's six! I told my mom I'd be home by three! Guys! You gotta cover for me!"

            T.K. looked doubtfully up at the sky. "Uh…I'm not Einstein or anything, but…wouldn't the sky be a little bit darker if it was six?"

            Davis shot him a nasty look and started muttering under his breath. He tore the head off of an animal cracker and threw the body in T.K.'s direction. It fell short miserably and failed to catch T.K.'s attention. Kari let a giggle escape her covered mouth. None of the others noticed the smile that passed between Kari and Davis, as they were all too busy laughing at Jou as he struggled to pull his watch off.

            "Come on! I paid good money for you, ya stupid watch! Where are the instructions to this thing?! What are you all laughing about? You wouldn't like it if you had a watch that rebelled! Would you?!"
            Davis jerked his head in a direction away from the group and mouthed the word 'talk'. Kari smiled knowingly. They got up and left the group, no one realizing their departure.

Matt stood staring at her. His breath made white puffs as he breathed in and out, watching her in the cold weather. Sora struggled to move her arms, then her legs, as she returned Matt's gaze. Help me, help me, she pleaded, but her lips had been frozen together. Please Matt, I'm begging you. If not me, than the others. Please, Matt.

            Snow drifted down steadily, falling on her hair and tickling her nose. She looked sideways, the muscles in her neck screaming with disapproval. There they all stood, just like her. With shackles and frostbitten fingers. Her friends. The people she had fought alongside of. Now she was going to die alongside them. Excluding Matt. He stood there, watching. Watching her. Matt…please…

            She forced her muscles to move. First curling her fingers, then a slight bending at the wrist. Matt…He stood watching; a slight amusement twinkled in his eyes. He was enjoying this. Every moment of it. She looked back at him. He stood there with hands shoved deep in the pockets of a parka. A tuft of blond hair could be seen from beneath the parka hood, dancing in the wind that had risen.

            The snow stung now. Every place it touched, she could feel the cold seeping through to her bones until her insides were frozen with ice. MATT PLEASE! Matt's eyes looked down the line, studying each of the faces that he came across, then back up again, to Sora. A smile spread itself across his face, barely visible in Sora's eyes. Snow blurred across her vision and her hair whipped at her eyes until she was forced to close them. Matt…please help us…save us…

            The two figures walked side by side, neither speaking. Davis took in a breath and let it out slowly.

            "Kari…I just wanted to say that…I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being such a jerk lately and…and I hope that you'll forgive me."

            Kari stopped walking and looked at Davis seriously. "You shouldn't be the one saying that, Davis. I'm the one who's the jerk."

            "Huh? No you're not Kari."

            "Yes I am! Just look at how I make you and T.K. fight over me!" Her eyes shimmered with tears. "Sometimes I think that my crest is useless. That, no matter how hard I try, my light will never shine. That's if I have any light of course."
            Davis stood in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders. "What do you mean, Kari? You have more light than anyone that I know. You're the one who can always make people smile and enjoy life to the fullest. And…Kari, please don't cry."

            She broke and buried her face into his shoulder. "Davis…I…can't always be happy! Do you know what it does to me? I…need moments to be sad, too. Or angry. Or even hateful. Everyone does! Don't you understand that?"
            Davis let his arms slide down her back slowly. He shook his head. "No. No I don't."

            Her sobs died down and she lifted her head slightly. "Do you…do you mean that everyone should be happy all the time?"
            "Of course not. Can you imagine living in a world like that? Everyone would have to have at least three cups of coffee in the morning to get them half way through the day." He gave a fake shudder. "The word 'prep' wouldn't be considered an insult. And everyone would be smiling all the time. There's no way anyone could accomplish such a thing; so I don't know why you try."

            "I don't. It's just…I feel like I have to make up for the people who aren't happy. You know, to balance it out."

            "I think I understand, but…how about this: You cut down the happiness by half, and I'll take care of that. Okay?"

            Kari smiled into his shoulder. "You're already happy enough."

            "I could be nicer to T.K. That would make up for the lost happiness."

            "You would do that? You would be nice to the person who threw you out of a window?"
            "Uh…let's not bring that up, 'k?"

            "Okay."

            "So now, you can fill up that space that used to be filled with happiness with sadness, hate, whatever you want. And you leave all the rest up to me."

            "Thank you, Davis. I never knew that you could be so thoughtful or nice."

            "Oh. That's just because I cover all that mushy stuff up so no one gets a crush on me."

            Kari lifted her head and looked at him, confused. "Why would you do that?"

            He winked. "Because there's only one girl I can love."

            "Where was I, where was I…"

            Tai lay sprawled on his bed digging underneath his pillow. His hand clenched around the now crinkled paper, and he pulled it out slowly.

            He sighed. "I can't do this. It…it just doesn't feel right." He let it drift from his hand to the floor, staring out of the window as he did. "Sora, Matt, Izzy, they're all counting on me to be a good leader. I can't let them down, not yet. I can make it through this. I'm man enough," he gulped, "I think."

            He looked back down at the paper. It seemed to be staring at him, pleading him to write more, to go through with it. He turned his head away quickly.

            "No. I'm strong enough. My courage will never die."